Merkel: We must hit climate target to avoid refugee waves

BERLIN, (AP):

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the world must do everything it can to meet an international goal to fight global warming, arguing that failing to do so could set off large new waves of refugees.

The UN and experts said governments' emissions-cutting pledges ahead of a global conference in Paris beginning this month aren't yet enough to hit the target of keeping the rise in global temperatures below two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) by the end of this century compared with pre-industrial times.

Merkel said in a speech yesterday if don't manage this, that could be a reason for many, many refugee movements" around the world.

Scientists said a temperature rise over two degrees Celsius could have profound, irreversible effects on the climate.