Climate-Driven Violence From Food Insecurity, State Vulnerability

Where climate change is most likely to induce food violence; Study finds capable governments more important than weather

June 8, 2017 (Science Daily)

“While climate change is expected to lead to more violence related to food scarcity, new research suggests that the strength of a country's government plays a vital role in preventing uprisings…[T]his is the first study to demonstrate that the combination of the two risk factors is even more dangerous than they would be separately…Extreme weather such as droughts and floods could hurt agricultural production in some countries, leading to violence there or elsewhere by people who are desperate for food…[Food scarcity and state vulnerability: Unpacking the link between climate variability and violent unrest esimates] the effects of food insecurity and state vulnerability on the occurrence of violent uprisings in Africa for the years 1991 to 2011…For the climate-related causes of food shocks, the researchers analyzed rainfall, temperature and -- importantly -- the international prices of food, including sudden increases in prices…When examining countries' vulnerabilities, the researchers analyzed a host of factors including a country's dependence on agricultural production, its imports, the strength of its political institutions and its wealth…” click here for more

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