Climate Change Will Create Breeding Grounds for Terrorism
Water shortages, agricultural suffering, mass migrations, and natural disasters will destabilize governments around the world, leaving many nations powerless to stop the spread of extremism. Terrorist organizations seek out unstable environments to indoctrinate and recruit disillusioned citizens. We can already see this happening around the world, with the spread of al Qaeda into regions like Somalia and Sudan. Furthermore, there are many nations with large Islamic populations that currently resist the influence of terrorist organizations, but cannot hope to maintain this level of stability in the future when climate change weakens their control. Terrorism is perhaps the single greatest threat to American security, and this risk will increase because of the ‘threat multiplying’ effects of climate change.
“Shifts in climates will result in shifts in populations as certain areas become more and more inhabitable. The bulk of these refugees will be sequestered away in squalid, wretched camps and largely denied education, medical care, and access to the opportunity of the outside world. This environment is for terrorists like a pool of stagnant water is for mosquitoes: a breeding ground.”
- Drew Sloan
Former Army Captain, Infantry
OEF/OIF Veteran
Climate change will weaken governments around the world as they try to cope with massive influxes of refugees or the effects of climate change on populations lacking food and water. As we have seen in countries like Afghanistan, terrorist organizations take advantage of weak states to seek haven, recruit members, and plan attacks.
The money we are currently spending on oil raises oil prices worldwide, helping hostile governments, who fund terrorist organizations and support repressive regimes. If the United States reduces our oil addiction, and works to prevent climate change, we could stem the spread of terrorism, reassume world leadership, and make America and the world a safer place to live.
