Climate Change Poses Growing Threat of Arctic Conflict

Climate change poses a growing security threat and could cause conflict in the Arctic, a group of retired American generals and admirals said on Tuesday.

In a new report, the former military officers said the Pentagon had been caught out by the rapid changes under way in the Arctic because of the melting of the sea ice.

The Center for Naval Analysis Corporation's report deepens concern about the security risks posed by climate change.  In March, the United Nations' IPCC, in a landmark report, also warned that growing competition for resources in a world under climate change could lead to conflict.

The report from the retired generals goes further, however, upgrading the climate risk from a “threat multipler” to a “conflict catalyst”.

In addition to the Arctic, the report warned climate change could lead to conflicts in developing countries.

Climate Change Poses Growing Threat of Arctic Conflict