Climate change could increase flooding in coastal areas, like the flooding that hit the Philippines.
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Global warming could destabilize “struggling and poor” countries around the world, prompting mass migrations and creating breeding grounds for terrorists, the chairman of the National Intelligence Council told Congress on Wednesday.
Climate change “will aggravate existing problems such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership and weak political institutions,” Thomas Fingar said. “All of this threatens the domestic stability of a number of African, Asian, Central American and Central Asian countries.”
Statement to US House of Representatives
Synopsis:
- “Economic refugees will perceive additional reasons to flee their homes because of harsher climates” That will put pressure on countries receiving refugees, many of which “will have neither the resources nor interest to host these climate migrants,” - Thomas Fingar, chairman of the National Intelligence Council
- storm surges that could affect nuclear facilities and oil refineries near coasts, water shortages in the Southwest and longer summers with more wildfires,
- “The United States depends on a smooth-functioning international system ensuring the flow of trade and market access to critical raw materials, such as oil and gas, and security for its allies and partners. Climate change and climate change policies could affect all of these,” he warned, “with significant geopolitical consequences.”
- Wealthy countries will be able to handle the situation better than poorer ones
- potentially increased migration and water-related disputes — could have a harmful global impact
