Conflict in the Age of Climate Change
Published October 15, 2009 @ 04:52AM PT
Access to vital resources is a driver of conflict -- not the only driver, of course, but people will certainly go to great lengths to secure the necessary means to survival. The impact of climate change is already felt in some of the world's most troubled regions, fueling fears that the necessary ingredients for sustainable peace may be further out of our grasp than we realize.
When a group of high-ranking, retired military officers concludes that "climate change acts as a threat multiplier for instability in some of the most volatile regions of the world" and "projected climate change will add to tensions even in stable regions of the world," we have reason to be worried.
Conflict mitigation in the age of climate change is not, however, purely a matter for environmental activism. Conflict over scarce resources often erupts when tyrannical governments play favorites -- when access to resources is unequal, at the expense of
a marginalized segment of the population. Transitions towards transparent, democratic governance with respect for human rights and equal access might mitigate the risk of violence due to climate change, but the realities of increasingly arid climates like Chad and Sudan make such moves seem increasingly like pipe dreams.
Agencies serving Darfuri refugees in eastern Chad are already grappling with the very real prospect that water might simply run out -- the rainy season in the region is short, and has been lighter than usual the past two years, leaving some wells running dry up to five months earlier than normal. Resources are already stretched to the limit, as the influx of refugees and the displacement of Chadian nationals dramatically increased the population in the region. What happens if the wells really do run dry?
A recent study by International Alert identified 46 countries at risk of violent conflict due to climate change, many of which can already be characterized as war-torn. A combination of environmental and human rights activism is needed if we have any chance of averting even further disaster -- if it isn't already too late.
[Photo by the author (all rights reserved): Darfuri refugees at a water point in a refugee camp in eastern Chad.]
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Author
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Michelle became involved in the anti-genocide cause at a young age, and has been involved in various activist endeavors, including the Teach Against Genocide pilot campaigns, ever since.
