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Climate change and global peace

Dec 18, 2009 Letters

Dear Editor,
Since time immemorial, wars have been fought over primarily two things; land and religion/ideology.
Over the last 60 years, much of the conflicts around the world can be attributed in some form to the Palestinian lands and the religion/ideology of the Jews and Muslims. Global warming has the potential to become the third source of armed conflicts.
Most scientists agree that global warming presents the greatest threat to the environment.
There is little doubt that the earth is heating up. In the last century the average temperature has climbed about 0.6 degrees Celsius (about 1 degree Fahrenheit) around the world.
Just as the evidence is irrefutable that temperatures have risen in the last century, it’s also well established that carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere has increased about 30 percent, enhancing the atmosphere’s ability to trap heat. (Stefan Lovgren for National Geographic News: Updated April 26, 2004)
The burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and forest degradation all contribute to the increase in carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere.
The developed countries, primarily United States, Canada and Europe have been pumping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere since the 1850’s, the beginning of the industrial revolution. Over the last 25 years, China, India, Brazil and other developing countries are adding to the problem.  Pollution knows no boundaries; neither does the effects from pollution, hence the global effect.
Warmer water takes up more room than colder water, which makes sea levels go up, a process known as thermal expansion. Thermal expansion has already raised the oceans 4 to 8 inches. Since primary school, we all know that 70% of planet earth is water, so you can imagine what will be the effect if temperatures continue to rise.
“The consequences would be catastrophic,” said Jonathan Overpeck, director of the Institute for the Study of Planet Earth at the University of Arizona in Tucson. “Even with a small sea level rise, we’re going to destroy whole nations and their cultures that have existed for thousands of years.”
How would you feel if it is your nation that is going to be destroyed? Recent articles are putting this in perspectives:
Neil Marks, Kaieteur News December 15, 09, “Copenhagen Climate talks in Limbo” – “The killing of the Kyoto protocol, I can say, will mean the killing of Africa”, said Mama Kanate, a member of Mali’s delegation, “Before accepting that, we should all die first”.
Allan Woods, Toronto Star December 17, 09, “Gloom and fury grip Copenhagen” – Prime Minister Melis Zenewi (Ethiopia) said, “Africa loses more than most if there is no agreement on climate change. Lack of agreement here could murder our future here before it is born”.
History is replete with records of what transpired when armies invade countries and occupy land. I would venture to say that the loss of land to rising sea levels as a result of global warming is not much different. Nations meeting in Copenhagen must reach some form of agreement to limit the rise in global temperature and to deal with the effects of global warming in an equitable manner or risk future conflicts.
President Jagdeo untiring efforts around the world to promote his Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) and to Reduce Emissions through Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+)  will contribute to limiting the rise in global warming and help in crafting equitable solutions for countries that are affected by it.
President Jagdeo efforts on climate change will advance world peace over the next century.
Sase Shewnarain

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