Climate Impacts - Impacts For People, Conflict

To-Do Date: Apr 28 at 9:30am

In addition to its impacts on our food production and physical health, climate change is also linked to increases in violence between people as well as institutional breakdowns that can lead to civil war, ethnic violence, and other forms of conflict.

A recent study summarized (Hot weather linked to hot heads Links to an external site.) found that increased drought and/or temperatures are associated with spikes in domestic violence, increased assaults and murders, ethnic violence, excessive police using force, and civil conflict.

Study Guide Questions

6. How does climate change impact violence, both on an individual level and militarily?

• • What is the connection between extreme heat and interpersonal (crime) violence?
  • What is the impact of climate change on military infrastructure? 
  • What is the connection between climate change and international conflicts, including refugee crises, civil wars, and other acts of war? 
  • What is a threat multiplier?

 

Reading:

Climate change poses a risk to national security in a number of ways.  Review the article, The Climate Crisis is a Threat to National Security Links to an external site..   This article has four main sections: 1) Military Readiness, 2) Threat Multiplier, 3) National & Global Security, and 4) What Can Be Done.   Consider how climate change poses a risk to security