Published April 17th, 2007 by Future Atlas
Climate change as a security threat
Military interest in security implications of climate change is growing, the Post reported yesterday.
As part of this interest, the Center for Naval Analyses has commissioned a report on the topic. According to the Post, the report says that:
- “global warming could destabilize vulnerable states in Africa and Asia and drive a flood of migrants to richer countries”
- “climate change ‘can act as a threat multiplier for instability in some of the most volatile regions of the world,’ in part by causing water shortages and damaging food production”
- “‘Many developing nations do not have the government and social infrastructures in place to cope with the type of stressors that could be brought about by global climate change.’”
The generals responsible for the report also told the Post that “changing climatic conditions will make it harder for weak nation-states to address their citizens’ basic needs.”
In other words, climate change could intensify pressure on states already in danger of failing.