Climate change, if unchecked, is likely to aggravate old and trigger new tensions in parts of the world, the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) warned yesterday.

The UNEP issued the warning at the ongoing UN climate change conference in Bali, Indonesia on the basis of a new report prepared by German and Swiss Academics titled "Climate Change as a Security Risk".

The report, which has been prepared by the German Advisory Council on Global Change, urged the UN climate change conference, which kicked off on Dec. 3 and will end on Dec. 14, to adopt deep and decisive emission reductions alongside support for adaptation.

Otherwise, climate change, including more extreme weather events, impacts like the melting of glaciers, the drying out of big forest systems and rising numbers of climate refugees, is likely to overwhelm the ability of many countries to govern and to cope, it said.

Achim Steiner, UN under-secretary general and UNEP executive director, said, "There are multiple environmental challenges facing the world .... Climate change is perhaps the most high profile."

The report comes in the wake of rising concern over climate change and conflict.

Citing several potential regional hotspots from the report, UNEP said combating climate change will be a "central peace" policy of the 21st century.