Dubai: As world leaders concluded the UN Climate Week Summit in New York last week, expectations are high for different countries’ pledges to translate into actual reductions in carbon emissions.

A new study released by research and media organisation Climate Central last week in time for the summit revealed that between 147 and 216 million people who live on land will be below sea level or regular flood level by the end of the century if greenhouse gas emissions continue in their current trend.

The study, co-produced and published by the New York Times, contains two lists of 20 countries vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change, mainly, global sea-level rise. The most at risk countries come from all continents except Australia. Seven Asian countries top the list, including three countries in the GCC, with UAE taking the seventh spot.

According to the study, some seven per cent of the population or 570,000 residents in the UAE are at risk of regular flooding and coastal sea level rise.

Gulf News spoke to some Dubai-based residents from the top 10 countries that are at risk to know how close to home the effects of climate change are. Emirati Ahmad Bin Al Shaikh, who works in the tourism industry, expressed his concern over the results of the study.

“That is a good warning for us to be prepared for any natural disasters coming,” Al Shaikh, 24, told Gulf News.

He said he has witnessed the effects of climate change in his country.

“I’m very shocked to see that there’s very little rain now compared to when I was younger. And then, weirdly, we experienced 48 hours of consecutive rain in 2004. The skies were dark for days in a row.”

Bahraini Dana A.S. said the threat to her country, which is ninth on the list, is very real.

“Bahrain is just an island; it’s very small. I just hope everyone would be safe because there are so many households located close to the sea,” Dana said, adding concrete steps should be made to make people care and change their mindsets about the environment.

While The Netherlands topped the list with 47 per cent of its population projected as liable to be affected, Nehemia is not very worried but said conservation efforts should be made globally in order to stop the earth from overheating.

“For now, it’s fine because we have all the levees and we trust them. And, in Holland, people are very aware of the need to [protect the environment],” the Dutch businesswoman said.

“The people living in The Netherlands pay a special kind of tax to help the government manage or regulate our waters. And over the years we have gained expertise in water management.”

Thailand placed third on the list with more than eight million of the population affected. Chitlada Tapradith, who comes from eastern Thailand, said the study worries her.

“I can see and feel the effects of climate change as early as now. I fear for my children, for their future,” Tapradith told Gulf News.

Tapradith said she has adopted simple ways to conserve energy at home. She and her husband have even thought of investing in a solar farm back home.

“I know making lifestyle changes is difficult, but we need to do something at least.”