LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will increase research into the possible impacts of climate change on the world's most vulnerable people, including deeper poverty and conflict, the international development minister said.
"Climate change is a defining global social justice issue," Alexander said on Wednesday.
Poor countries will be hit hardest because they have the least resources to cope when crops fail or storms wreak havoc.
"By the middle of this century there could be as many as 200 million people forced from their homes because of rising sea levels, heavier floods and more intense droughts. Where will they go?" said Alexander.
The extra funding announced on Wednesday was separate from 800 million pounds that Britain last year pledged to support developing countries' fight against climate change, through a World Bank fund expected to be detailed at the Group of Eight leaders' summit in Japan in July.
The United States said in January it would commit $2 billion over the next three years to promote clean energy technologies and help developing nations fight climate change.