Question

How can climate change result in political strife within and between nations?

Answer 1

Climate change is ominous. The change is manifested in varying aspects such as decreased availability of freshwater resources, changed rainfall patterns, delayed monsoon, increased coincidences of heat and cold waves to name a few. Apart from these dastardly consequences, climate change has led to brewing political strife between and within nations.

This discord is visible in the form increased attempt to control available resources necessary for human survival, climate refugee crisis, desperate attempt to control arctic etc. Some of the common instances of climate change causing conflict between and within the nation are as follows-

1. The civil war in Africa- Sub-Saharan Africa and the horn of Africa, one of the most impoverished regions of the world is again falling prey to war and conflicts. The climate change has led to delayed rains, deluge and draughts which has increased starvation, agriculture disaster, floods, heatwaves etc. This has led to people going wary of their lives and increased violent tendencies of people to control existing water resources in and around the river Nile and Chad basin.

2. Growing race for the Arctic- Climate change has led to depreciating snow cover over the Arctic. It has potential reserves for some of the most precious resource of mankind such as Petroleum and gas, Gold, Coal etc. Countries such as Russia, US, China are making desperate attempts to harness this potential resource and claiming their sovereignty over the region. This has led to conflicting claims from competing countries leading to a situation of distrust amongst countries.

3. Climate refugee crisis- This has inward as well as outward dimension. Climate change has altered the atmospheric condition leading to draughts, famine on one hand, while floods on the other. This has made people to migrate from their native place to a safe location. This has become a cause of concern within the country as well as amongst countries too.

4. Attempts to control available water resources- This is the most common conflict contemporarily. Recent water conflicts between Southern states of India (Tamil Nadu and Karnataka), African states of South Sudan, Egypt etc, China’s attempt to divert river water of Tsangpo are some of the instances of the developing conflict stage. This has larger and deeper ramification for domestic as well as international politics.

5. Conflict, Violence and consequent failure of states- Climate change would eventually manifest itself in the form of decreased Agri productivity, disasters, rising inequality among groups, forced migration, and damaged economies. This would increase secessionist tendencies among groups leading to brutal conflicts and violence among tribes leading to catastrophe for the state as a whole.

6. Dangerous seas and failing food resources- With increased population, countries have turned to the ocean for fulfilling their needs. This has been in the form of food resources (fish, shrimps, prawns etc), maritime trade for economic activities, marine resources etc. However, with climate change in the loop, they are in great stress showing signs of exhaustion. Countries such as China have already overharvested its fishing stocks and is aiming to harvest the resources of other African countries. This may snowball into big conflicts in times to come. Moreover, people from Africa (mostly horn of Africa region) on account of their impoverishment are turning to maritime piracy thus making sea trade and travel dangerous.

Climate change impacts are differential in their impact. They impact much more harshly to the lower strata of society than the influential one. Growing call for sustainable use of available resources has fallen prey to deaf ears of global community. Increased extreme weather events, political turmoil would further aggravate the already decimating situation. With growing incidences of these events in coming days, it seems the doom’s day is not too far away.