Eleventh Global Studies Conference

Abstract

Climate change presents a critical threat to human security on multiple levels. Over one billion people live in low-lying areas and coastal cities where populations and vital infrastructure are at catastrophic risk of rising sea levels. Sixty percent of the chronically hungry already live in at-risk areas and salination of fresh water and loss of agricultural land to marsh are expected to dramatically decrease food security. The loss of territory and conflict over scarce resources is expected to incite regional wars as well, adding to the large unregulated movements of displaced populations. In addition, rising seas and monsoons are expected to contribute to increases in infectious diseases, especially among vulnerable populations. Much of the world’s hydrocarbon and fossil fuels also lie in at-risk regions, threatening global energy resources. This study examines the existential threat of climate change and offers a predictive model to anticipate the impact of climate change across three geo-political regions.