Media

HKU research team finds climate change the ultimate cause of large-scale human crisis Media Briefing

30 Sep 2011

A study by Professor David D. Zhang and his colleagues from the Department of Geography, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has revealed that climate change was the ultimate cause of significant human crises in pre-industrial Europe and the Northern Hemisphere.

Their research finding will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, the most prestigious journal in social sciences.

Prof. David D. Zhang and colleagues collected and tabulated all available historical data about climate, agro-ecology, economy, society, human ecology, and demography in pre-industrial Europe. They have established in their study a set of causal linkages from climate change to human crisis. For example, a cold climate phase in Europe had affected plant growth, which subsequently had an impact on grain price, social stability and even human body height.

Professor David D. Zhang and his team members will hold a press conference to explain their findings. You are cordially invited to attend. Details as follows:

Date: October 3, 2011 (Monday)
Time: 2pm
Venue: KB 902, 9/F, Knowles Building, The University of Hong Kong

For media enquiries, please contact: Ms Trinni Choy (Assistant Director (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2606, email: pychoy@hku.hk  or Ms Melanie Wan (Manager (Media), Communications and Public Affairs Office) tel: 2859 2600 email: melwkwan@hku.hk.