Global Conflict: The Impact of Climate Change on International Stability

Climate change has become a global issue that significantly affects international stability. With increasing global temperatures, extreme weather and frequent natural phenomena, the impacts of climate change are spreading to various aspects of life around the world, including the economy, security, migration and international relations. One of the direct impacts of climate change is an increase in the frequency of natural disasters. This causes huge economic losses for countries, especially for less developed ones. For example, floods, storms, and droughts can destroy infrastructure and exacerbate poverty, creating instability within the country. Countries facing these crises often do not have sufficient resources to recover, further exacerbating the situation and increasing the potential for conflict. Climate change also contributes to tensions between countries. For example, increasingly limited access to natural resources, such as clean water and fertile land, can lead to competition between neighboring countries. Regions such as the Nile River and the South China Sea reflect how control of resources can be a source of conflict. Countries such as Egypt and Ethiopia have experienced serious tensions regarding the use of water from the Nile River due to dam projects built by Ethiopia. Furthermore, migration triggered by climate change is becoming a new challenge in international diplomacy. In recent years, thousands of people have migrated from disaster-affected areas, such as sinking Pacific islands. The countries of origin of these refugees are often unable to accommodate the arriving migration flows, resulting in social and political tensions. In an economic context, uncertainty due to climate change affects global business. Companies that depend on agriculture and natural resources will have to adapt to new conditions, which could result in increased prices of goods and exacerbate economic injustice. Economic instability can quickly spill over into political instability, especially in countries with already fragile economies. Large countries also responded to this threat by implementing more aggressive foreign policies. These policies include multilateral agreements to address climate change, such as the Paris Agreement, but are often accompanied by advice on what actions to take. On the other hand, there are also countries that are skeptical of this issue, feeling that they will be disadvantaged by existing provisions, which often increase tensions between developed and developing countries. The combination of all these factors shows that climate change is not only an environmental problem, but also a strategic issue that affects international stability. To reduce the negative impacts, better global cooperation and adaptation strategies are needed that can support the resilience of communities and countries to the changes that occur. In this new era, world leaders must unite to face common challenges, considering that the impacts of climate change will continue to grow, creating the potential for new conflicts in the international system.