IU professor: Al Gore's peace prize highlights link between conflict and climate change
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 12, 2007
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- It is absolutely appropriate that Al Gore be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work on global warming, says Rafael Reuveny, professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University Bloomington. That's because climate change -- which can produce drought, water scarcity and loss of productive farming and grazing land -- is closely associated with forced migration and with conflict.
"As conditions deteriorate, people change their behavior, particularly those people that depend on the environment for their daily livelihood," Reuveny said. "Right now, this applies to about 80 percent of the people living on Earth, especially in the less developed countries. As the climate and environmental conditions deteriorate, people begin to think about conflict as a rational option."
In a study published recently in the journal Political Geography, Reuveny found that, of 38 cases of migration directly attributable to climate change in the 20th century, half led to conflicts, some of which were violent. The research was featured this month in an article in Nature Reports titled, "Is this what the world's coming to?" (http://www.nature.com/reports/climatechange).
Reuveny said climate change is a major problem in parts of the world already torn by ethnic conflict, disputed borders and other factors. Some of those areas are of strategic importance to developed countries, either because of their location or the presence of oil and other resources.
"These set-ups are already ripe for conflict, and once you bring in climate change, that could really push a country over the cliff," he said. "There is an imminent and clear connection between what Al Gore is doing and international stability and order."
Reuveny can be reached at 812-327-3008 (cell), 812-855-6112 (office) or 812-824-3882 (home) or at rreuveny@indiana.edu.
