Climate Change and Global Political Challenges

This all-level political science program will examine the growing impacts of climate change on international peace and stability. Climate change is increasingly being understood by scientists, policy makers and security analysts as a “crisis multiplier” that has profound implications for international politics. More intense storms, heat waves, droughts and disappearing coastlines will affect water and food security, displacing vulnerable populations and heightening social and political conflicts. This will in turn create unprecedented strain on political and social institutions that could result in growing resource conflicts, mass migration and even failed states. This program will explore these challenges in such places as sub-Saharan Africa, Central America and South Asia, and responses in Europe and the United States, including how the U.S. government and military is already preparing to deal with such contingencies. The program will conclude by exploring emerging forms of global cooperation that seek to develop mitigation and adaptation strategies to address these profound challenges.