The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis The Anatomy of A Silent Crisis

52 Forum 2009: Climate Change – The Anatomy of a Silent Crisis
Security: Climate change threatens security
Climate change contributes to violent conflict
Conflicts are typically extremely complex with multiple inter-dependent causalities, often
referred to as ‘complex emergencies.’ Climate change has the potential to exacerbate existing
tensions or create new ones — serving as a threat multiplier. It can be a catalyst for violent
conflict and a threat to international security. 160,161 The United Nations Security Council held its
first-ever debate on the impact of climate change in 2007. 162 The links between climate change
and security have been the subject of numerous high profile reports since 2007 by leading
security figures in the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union. 163,164,165 The G77
group of developing nations also considers climate change to be a major security threat which is
expected to hit developing nations particularly hard. 166
“ We sink or swim together. Climate change can be a
threat to peace and stability. There is no part of the
globe that can be immune to the security threat.”
Rajendra K. Pauchauri — Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC);
Director General, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI);
Director, Yale Climate and Energy Institute