Researchers and scientist from all over the world are in Cancun for the latest Climate Change Conference.

Delegates will be giving their input on how to counter the negative effects of climate change. CCTV's Michelle Begue spoke to one of the UNFCCC attendees about the need to fight the phenomenon and its effects on developing nations.

The need to fight Climate Change is urgent. That is the message the delegates and researchers are sending at the UN Climate Change Conference in Cancun. Severe droughts in Russia and devastating floods in Pakistan and China are offering the world a glimpse of what could continue to happen in the future if Global Warming continues.

Research shows that the developing nations are the ones who will likely bear 75 to 80 percent of the costs of harmful climate change in the future. That is why The International Food Policy Research Institute believes the International Community must address poverty as a key part of climate change adaptation.

Gerald Nelson, Ifpri Report Author, said, "What it means to be poor is that the have fewer resources for consuming but they also have fewer resources for producing so as climate change comes along they are going to be subject to shocks that they don't have the resources to deal with unless we have higher income growth that generates higher income for them. That is why they are more likely to get harder hit and hurt by climate change in the Midwest of the United States who have a big resource base and can easily switch between different crops."

The new report from IFPRI shows that when families have more income, they are better able to cope with drought, floods and other climate shocks. Food prices will rise not only because of population and the economy but because climate change will affect production.

The report says if Global warming is allowed to continue at its current pace, rice production will be significantly lower by the year 2050. Gerald Nelson is the author of the report. He says strengthening agricultural trade would help countries cope with crop losses and deal with the uncertainty and changes that climate change will bring.

Gerald Nelson, Ifpri Report Author, said, "Level the playing field for poor farmers. SO for example, put some good roads in to the places where farmers are located so they can sell their products at higher prices, because they don't have to bare the huge transportation costs and they can get inputs more cheaply."

The cost of climate change last year was at US$7 billion. IFPRI says these issues should not only be a concern for developing nations. Developed nations need also take part in finding a solution to help improve food security.

"Researchers insist that the time to act is now and that once the most serious effects of climate change kick in, it will already be too late to respond effectively. "

(CCTV  December 3, 2010)