Group Says 'Global Warming' could wipe out decades of progress

Climate change may cut rice and wheat yields in Asia and wipe out decades of social and economic progress, a report on the environment said.

``An increase of just 1 degree Celsius in night-time temperatures during the growing season will reduce Asian rice yields by 10 percent,'' according to environmental group Greenpeace, one of the contributors to the ``Up in Smoke'' report. ``Wheat production could by fall 32 percent by 2050.''

The report comes just before the 10 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations plus China, Japan, Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand will pledge to reduce the impact on global warming at their summit meeting in Singapore Nov. 21.