Report links Climate Change to Civil Strife

August 26, 2011

A new study that examines the impact of El Ninõ on human populations throughout history has concluded that extreme weather variations can lead to civil strife and sometimes war. “Lead author Solomon Hsiang of Columbia’s Earth Institute said El Niño was an invisible factor – but not the only one – in driving intra-border conflict.

By causing crop losses, hurricane damage or helping to spread epidemics of water-borne disease, it amplified hunger, loss, unemployment and inequality, which in turn fuelled resentment and division.”

Read article in the Vancouver Sun. 

Read study Climate cycles drive civil war in Nature.