The map of the Middle East could be reshaped by rising seas and populations displaced by global warming, according to major new research exploring the ongoing consequences of climate change.

Developed by Professor Geoffrey Boulton of the University of Edinburgh, the new body of data will be discussed this week at The British University in Dubai (BUiD), the region’s leading research-based educational institution.

The study will attempt to analyse the extent to which global warming will impact the world - and the Arabian Gulf in particular - over the coming years.

Professor Boulton is Regius Professor with responsibility for Edinburgh’s international initiatives, and also leads the Global Change Group, one of the largest major research groups in the field of Geosciences.

“Human impact on the planet has accelerated over the last hundred years, with the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere being radically altered by burning fossil fuels. Understanding that impact and agreeing steps forward is a critical imperative for the future,” said Professor Boulton.

One of the predicted impacts of climate change, according to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is a potential rise of global temperatures from between 1.8 to four degrees Celsius.

This could radically affect sea levels, caused by melting ice caps, and potentially submerge coastal areas.

Reducing the potential impact of climate change requires coordinated efforts and better research to understand the most effective responses to the challenges. In particular, a consensus is emerging on the importance of reducing carbon emissions, particularly for a nation like the UAE, which despite a population of fewer than five million people, sits in the top 50 countries for carbon emissions.

However, the UAE is also pioneering a number of initiatives designed to reduce its carbon footprint. Earlier in February, plans for the first zero carbon emissions city, Masdar City, which will run on renewable energy including solar power.

As the first research-based, postgraduate university in the Middle East, BUiD supports a number of programmes that investigate ways to reduce environmental impact.

“BUiD continues to support original research into the wider environmental and social challenges that are, in part, a result of the rapid development of this region. We are very pleased to welcome Professor Boulton, who is an expert in this field, to speak at the university,” said vice-chancellor, BUiD, Dr Abdullah M Alshamsi.

BUiD’s Faculty of Engineering was the first in the region to launch an MSC in Sustainable Design of Built Environment.

The public lecture, Climate Change: the science and possible responses, takes places today (February) from 6pm, at BUiD, Knowledge Village. – TradeArabia News Service