The risks posed by climate change are
\nreal and its impacts are already taking place. The UN estimates that all but
\none of its emergency appeals for humanitarian aid in 2007 were climate related.
\nIn 2007 the UN Security Council held its first debate on climate change and its
\nimplications for international security. The European Council has drawn
\nattention to the impact of climate change on international security and in June
\n2007 invited the High Representative and the European Commission to present a
\njoint report to the European Council in Spring 2008.<\/p>\n
The science of climate change is now
\nbetter understood. The findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
\nChange demonstrate that even if by 2050 emissions would be reduced to below
\nhalf of 1990 levels, a temperature rise of up to 2oC above pre-industrial levels will be difficult to avoid. Such a
\ntemperature increase will pose serious security risks that would increase if
\nwarming continues. Unmitigated climate change beyond 2oC will lead to unprecedented security scenarios as it is likely to
\ntrigger a number of tipping points that would lead to further accelerated,
\nirreversible and largely unpredictable climate changes. Investment in
\nmitigation to avoid such scenarios, as well as ways to adapt to the unavoidable
\nshould go hand in hand with addressing the international security threats
\ncreated by climate change; both should be viewed as part of preventive security
\npolicy.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Reference and details:<\/p>\n