The Impact of Global Climate Change on National Security
We live in the warmest period in the last 150 years. The climate on Earth has changed many times. The causes of these climate changes varied. Most scientists agree that the major part of today’s global warming has been caused by mankind. Excessive pollution, uncontrolled seizure and exploitation of natural resources and a drastic increase of population can by no means pass unnoticed. It is expected that the consequences of climate change will severely interfere with the most fundamental living conditions of people worldwide. The accessibility of water and food may be aggravated and the problems of the basic living space may turn up. Climate change might be causing different crises: political, economic, energy, migration, social, health, and epidemiological as well as others. In extreme cases, climate change may also trigger military interventions.
Most countries worldwide identify climate change as a global source of threat that might put many countries and societies worldwide in grave danger. To reduce the human impact on the environment, countries around the world have signed or ratified various international instruments and have defined climate change in their national legislation as a serious threat to the safety of national security.
Keywords: Climate change; National security; International safety; Greenhouse gases; Carbon dioxide.
