Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Climate change is seriously affecting vulnerable populations around the world, especially those who live in conflict zones or lack access to basic health care. This was stated on Friday by the International Committee of the Red Cross /ICRC/, Xinhua News Agency reports.

In a joint statement with Médecins Sans Frontières, the ICRC noted that most of the 25 countries most vulnerable to climate change also suffer from armed conflict and lack of access to basic health care.

"When climate shocks occur in countries with limited food, water and economic resources, people's lives, health and livelihoods are at risk," the statement said.

In a world that is already 1.2 degrees warmer than pre-industrial levels, additional warming will be catastrophic if urgent and extensive mitigation measures are not taken. Need to provide adequate support for the hardest-hit countries to adjust to rising climate risks, the ICRC and Médecins Sans Frontières said.

The 27th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change /COP27/ will be held on 6-18 November in the Egyptian city of Sharm el-Sheikh.