Leading world experts explore the threats and how to create a robust international system to avert future instability and climate conflicts, such as the ongoing conflict in Darfur. This title is essential reading for all those involved in researching and planning for the impacts of global warming.
Climate change is now perceived as the major security risk facing the planet. This report presents the state-of-the-art of science on the subject of "Climate Change as a Security Risk". Based on the findings of research into environmental conflicts, the causes of war, and of climate impact research, it appraises past experience and ventures to cast a glance into the future to assess the likely impacts of climate change on societies, nation-states, regions and the international system.The core message of this volume is that without resolute counteraction, climate change will overstretch many societies' adaptive capacities. In some regions of the world, this may result in internal destabilization processes and state failure with diffuse conflict structures, inter-state conflicts and a strain on the international system. Classic security policy cannot respond adequately to these new threats to international stability. Climate policy and strategies for adaptation to climate change are thus emerging as key elements of preventive security policy.