Britain ranks top risks posed by climate change
(AP) -- Britain says coastlines, wildlife and even the nation's most famous dish are under threat from climate change in its first-ever national assessment of likely risks.
The 2.8 million pound ($4.4 million) study sets out the most pressing problems expected to affect the United Kingdom as a result of climate change.
Britain's government said Thursday that higher temperatures could see as many as 5,900 more people die as a result of hot summers, but predicts a sharp reduction in deaths due to cold weather by the 2050s.
Other risks include increased pollution and energy demands.
The report says Britain's stocks of cod - a key component of the nation's beloved fish and chips dish - will dwindle, but should be replaced by more plentiful numbers of plaice and sole.
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