By Daniel Griffiths BBC News, Beijing

Climate change also threatens China's rivers

The Chinese authorities have announced that the country is likely to be hit by more adverse weather this year than at any time in the past decade.

The reason, they say, is because of global climate change.

China is the world's second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, one of the main causes of global warming

Official figures suggest that natural diasters killed more than 2,000 people last year and caused millions of dollars in damage.

For centuries China has suffered floods, typhoons and drought, but the government is warning that the nation's problems will be far worse this year.

China's leaders have been reluctant to tackle emissions, worrying that might dent the country's booming economy.

Now, though, the results of that inaction are starting to hit home.