Will Global Warming Cause World War IV?
by Eric Leech, New York, NY 
on 01. 4.09
Photo credit: SoftPixTechie
Global warming is the cause of a number of damaging effects to the earth and its inhabitants, such as climate change, glacier retreat, rising sea levels, and now we may have a new threat on the horizon... world war! According to the 2007 CNA Corporation report, there is clear indication that as the tensions of global warming continue to heat up, so may the possibilities of war... a Hot War!
There are two obvious factors which will be the cause of the increasing threat of a World War IV (some military historians believe that WWIII has already occurred):
1.Crowding and Territorial Tensions- The number one cause of such tensions will be the migration of different cultures to other territories in search of new resources to replace the increasingly depleting ones. Not only will many cultures find their resources disappearing, but the rising sea level will cover over parts of much of the land, minimizing usable farm area, fresh water, and cattle herds. In some cases, entire islands may become submerged.
Instead of allowing their sovereignty to disappear along with their dry ground, many of these endangered cultures will choose to battle with nearby countries in order to set-up their governments and house their citizens upon alternative soil. Inevitably larger powers will become a part of such squabbles and before you know it, we've got a world war on our hands.
2.Competition of Newly Habitable Lands- The opposite scenario of crowding may also occur as the open space around the Arctic regions becomes available due to the increased air temperatures. As these uninhabitable areas become habitable for the first time in history, competition from the various coastal countries and islands who have lost their native homeland will become fierce.
In addition to the smaller powers, larger world powers who previously ignored such land will eventually see the profit potential of such areas and involve themselves in the competition. The large nations will be less interested in the usable space and more keen on the possibility of exploiting the relatively untapped oil resources of these areas for strategic economic positioning.
While this may seem like a gloomy outlook, the truth is that it is still only an outlook. There are steps the various countries and governments can take in order to reduce the possibilities of such an outcome.
Steps to Reduce the Possibility of Hot Wars
The first thing we need to do as a nation is concentrate on reducing our own pollution levels. Each country has the most control over itself and its citizens and should therefore be held accountable for its own actions.
Beyond that, each government needs to open communications with each other in order to help incorporate pollution reduction programs and technologies into every nations lifestyle around the world. Such a plan would help make current efforts more effective by not only producing awareness on a global level, but providing a consistent plan for all to follow.
Unfortunately, what could be called the new 'Hot War' threat is just as real and dangerous as the Cold War ever was. The greatest danger however remains in the fact that many people still refuse to recognize its presence in the world no matter how much proof they are shown. Let's all hope that the world becomes wise long before the strategy of war becomes our last resort.
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If I remember my history correctly, there have only been two World Wars. Why do you say that global warming may become the instigator of World War IV. When did World War III take place? Fill me in please!
Four?! What happened to three?!?
What happened to World War III?
World War IV? We haven't yet fought WW III. Assuming WW III is fought with nuclear weapons (and the next war that qualifies for "world" status almost certainly will be), climate change will be mooted by the ensuing nuclear winter. Much of the middle east, and most of the world's access to petroleum products whose combustion leads to climate change, will be off limits to humanity for hundreds or thousands of years because of residual radioactivity (see Chernobyl). And the number of human beings left alive in the world won't make a difference to the climate, regardless of what they burn. World War III will take care of the climate problem, the carbon problem, the population problem, illegal immigrants, warrantless wiretapping, and any residual prosperity left in the world following the spectacular failure of capitalism in 2008. If we ever get to a World War IV, it will surely be fought, as Einstein once predicted, with nothing more than sticks and stones.
What happened to (and "in") WW-III? Was I asleep? Darn! ...missed it! Maybe that's a good thing.
Seriously, look up the "No Regrets" studies from the US Pentagon. ...well thought out but chilling.
what happened to WW III?
A little slip up over WW3? It is an elegant metaphor for all things green. Unfocused, unfounded and unfortunately ignorant.
I could have sworn that WWII kind of started because of such a lousy armistice after WW1. Was not aware that global temperature had much to do with it.
you loons will blame anything on global warming. How about solar output, does that have ANYTHING at all to do with temps?
"The Maldives declares war, invades northern Canada"
The grasp of history is as solid as the assertions.
Well since the gobaal average temperatures are dropping the glacier retreats have reversed and now are advancing, and sea levels are dropping
I guess Word War IV has been averted
Oh and for those wondering about WW3? Some military historians call the time between the Fall of Berlin and the Fall of the Berlin Wall the Prolonged Conflict
We already fought WW3 and the West won
Man made global warming causes shifts in sea currents and sun spots.
Carts cause horses to move forward.
Anyone who denies it is a flat-earther.
Eras of shortages and calamity followed by vast array of conflict are historically during Cold eras not Warm.
All prior warmings have brought abundance, expansion and prosperity.
This man's an ignoramous.
Some historians referred to the Cold War as World War III. Others have referred to the so-called War on Terror as World War III. I'm inclined to reserve the term for something more closely resembling a traditional war, but I can understand why the author of this blog post chose WWIV. I'm not inclined to be so kind about the assertions made, however. A global war might very well be caused by fighting over carbon fuels, or by Islamic terrorism, but simply because of global warming? Puh-leaze. Of course, I never bought the world conflict justification for Al Gore's Peace Prize, either.
Nice one. Parody is fabulous when done right.
Oh, wait. This post is meant to be taken seriously.
BWAHA
Sigh.
First is was "wars from Global Cooling" (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_cooling)
Now, wars from Global Warming.
How about something even simpler?
Wars caused by stupidity, greed or paranoia?
OR even wars caused by stupid politicos and their enablers - the press?
Happy New Year anyway..... we can always hope I suppose.
A war is to be instigated due to man-made global warming? Only if the religious fanatics who believe in man-made global warming start one in order to force people to believe in it.
Absolutely. Virtually all wars are fought over resources or lack thereof, and despite the 4 IQ points of Freeper Nation, climate change, coupled with over fishing, etc, is causing widespread famine, rising prices, etc. War is coming for sure. Of course, Right Wingers love having people die . . . unless of course they are a zygote or the painfully, terminally ill.
Nice one. Parody is fabulous when done right.
Oh, wait. This post is meant to be taken seriously.
BWAHA
WW3 was the cold war. It was a new kind of war and was indirect in large part because of how impossible a direct conflict would have been. It is estimated that the cold war killed as many people as WW1. It achieved world status and just because it was unconventional and used proxies for conventional warfare doesn't mean it is not a world war.
All future wars are impacted by what was learned from the cold war. Over population may cause many wars (or may be a large factor in current conflicts;) however, these will not be linked to each other enough to fit the definition of a world war. The may have common themes that are slightly closer than previous motivations for wars but it isn't likely the same exact problem will create them.
have been studying the issue of global warming for some time now and have concluded at present there is no objective proof for it.
Global Sea ice is back to "normal" considering we only have 30yrs of satellite data
http://arctic.atmos.uiuc.edu/cryosphere/
The earth has been in a cooling phase for some 7-10yrs now:
http://icecap.us/images/uploads/MSULT1208.JPG
And climate models have been shown to not include effects like AMO.PDO
There is no "Hot Spot" that the models predict:
http://www.climateaudit.org/?p=4731
So please tell me--what evidence do you have that is so compelling to make you think there is a crisis? What "objective evidence do you have?
I refuse to believe the hype of man-made global warming. I was suckered by you nutters once - in the 70's you all told me there would be KILLER BEES... every night on the news - KILLER BEES. there were movies, specials, articles, mass hysteria. And the bees never came.
As soon as the KILLER BEES you promised me come I will listen to the global warming priests.
NO wait - after the BEES could we please have the massive societal melt down you all promised us with the Y2K thing.
k- First the BEES, then Y2K then I am in for the WW 4 idea you have.
Treehuggers may not be very smart, but they do have FEELINGS...be nice everyone!
Note: this comment is more intelligent and civil than the drivel written in the article above, so it better get posted.
This is a joke right?
Wars start primarily by resource demands. WWI started because the Kraut's domination in the chemical industry allowed them to manufacture gun powder from ammonia rather than salt peter mines or pig urine as the British got their supply. Our war with Japan in WWII arose from our oil and steel production embargo to that island nation. Germany went after the oil fields in southeast Europe to expand their empire.
The next war will be over strategic resources: energy (oil and uranium) as well as metallic ores vital to high tech production.
"Global Warming" is not real, Islamic insanity and Communist reversion is and it is really happening right now.
This site must be the frog in the water pot site. You are all slowly allowing the cooking to take place and are doing nothing real about it except to chase some imaginary SWAG.
I think the most likely reason for the historically inaccurate title of this article would be the fact that school children aren't taught Roman numerals properly anymore.
I think the most likely reason for the historically inaccurate title of this article would be the fact that school children aren't taught Roman numerals properly anymore.
Although I do agree that climate change will bring several problems with a long list of inegalities (some countries will be able to fight global warming, and all the minorities won't), I'm so saddened and despaired by your analysis of the steps to take in order to prevent a enormous conflict.
Thinking that reducing our pollution to avoid such conflicts (will could be dealt by big military nations in a horrible way we haven't seen before) is a part of the solution is at best the less thought out idea I've heard in a long time. Climate change is happening, Artctic meldown has hit treshold, we are in until the neck. It's not something we will avoid before a long time (it could go back to a normal point at some point, but we don't know when).
I'm not a scientist but I follow the developments of global warming really closely and I suggest some new articles to read.
1°) Leak in our protective magnetic field
2°) Geo-engineering
3°) Scientists prepare tinymade man star
4°) NASA scientist warns of runaway global warming
5°) Nitrogen Trifluoride
6°) Arctic melt at point of no return
7°)Sea-rise slowing
These are only some articles which are really interesting. I can't get my hands on all the one I have so if you have more, let's have a good sharing about that.
The real steps to take if we want to avoid a giant conflict that will make big military nations to take action, is to use engineering, technology, all we have as a human society to make it possible to live. Russian lands will become more livable, and many parts of the world will be habitable, everything is possible if we are also ready to act WITH change. We should develop drinkable water from the sea and the ocean, build new places, help the minorities with our technology to survive the best the drastic conditions which will come, change the monetary system (most of the powerty are due to our monetary system and it could be different). Our redemption reside in our technological possibilities and the way we will be ready to share it as one human society.
Reducing pollution is a great thing, for us, for the air we breath, to keep us healthy and to avoid ecological disaster, but it's only a part of the climate change which is happening. There are so much more causes to climate change than CO2 and if we have to avoid wars and destructions of minorities, it would be insane to make a so simple connection without thinking further.
Everything change, and we will learn to accept that for a fact and that it's the normal way things go. But in a new world, we have to think anew, refreshed. Not war is inevitable, and that's because we forsee that we can truly face what lies ahead. A wrong analysis like CO2 is the base of all the problems will lead to our destruction. We have so many keys and we need to explore it.
Scarcity of resources and room are often causes of war, but also demagoguery (?) about these issues is also a big cause. Victimhood is an evergreen nationalist grudge narrative.
"The greatest danger however remains in the fact that many people still refuse to recognize its presence in the world no matter how much proof they are shown."
And where did you get your degree in atmospheric science, Mr. Leech?
As a meteorologist, this is one of the silliest articles I have ever read about global warming -- and that is saying something.
The earth for several years has been losing heat content, the arctic ice melt in summer is due to soot coating the snow (not higher temperatures), Antarctic ice is at recent record levels, etc., etc., etc. That darned atmosphere stubbornly keeps falsifying the IPPC's predictions.
Who won World War III? I missed it completely.
The Discovery Channel has embarrassed itself.
World War 3? World War 4? 2012? Peak oil? Global climate change? Ozone collapse? Ocean fisheries collapse? Ice sheet collpase? Habitat collapse? President Cheney and Iraq-nam? Zionists running Amerika? Asteroid threats? Rogue nukes being $muggled across the cocaine border? Flag burning? Gay marriage? Prayer in school? Wow! All these problems... and I'm still struggling to solve Y-2K.
We are in for an ice age.
You have all been duped by Mr Gore.
To all the fools who swallow the line of BS over global warming- it is nothing but junk science and is designed to tax the living shit out of you and have you smile while they do it.The only change you will see is that all you will have left is change in your pocket fools!
I really can't believe how blinded some people in this community are. Anyone who actually thinks global warming will cause wars is naive. Religion is the biggest instigator of war, always has been and always will be. I can't foresee a war because of global warming. Sometimes the arguments for a green revolution are taken way too far. This is a perfect example of that. Some individuals/groups of the "Green" community are becoming egocentric to the point that it will end up harming our goals.
Sorry folks, every day more evidence is exposing the HOAX that is global warming.
Over 30,000 actual climate scientists have signed the petition demanding this insanity stop.
It's the SUN boys and girls. Track the sun's activities. When the sun is active, like it was in the late 80's and 90's, you have warmer global temperatures.
The mean temperature has actually been lower, not higher than average, starting in 1998.
Here's a really nice website set up as a clearing house for scientifically provable information that will help you understand all of this:
http://z4.invisionfree.com/Popular_Technology/index.php?showtopic=2050
There are common sense answers to alternative energy, and a cleaner environment. But global warming is a HOAX, and Al Gore, who has made billions off of this deal is laughing all of the way to the bank.
A great rule of thumb. The louder unstable people, like Gore, are screaming the sky is falling, the more probable the event is a HOAX. This little rule has served man well since the beginning of time.
Remember, the very same folks who are telling us we are all going to spontaneously combust in a week or two, if we don't submit to their will, and spend a bunch of money, were the one in the 1970'swho proclaimed we were only a couple of years away from the worst ice age in history!
These people (many of them all about AGW now) actually advocated putting MORE pollution in the air, and even creating soot , to work as an insulator to hold in the heat!
Simply mindboggling!
I see the Anti Global Warming nutjobs have raised their ignorant heads.
Good Lt says: has it right
"Wars caused by stupidity, greed or paranoia? " that sums up all past present and future wars. War is hell.
Many people are already dead they just don't know it yet.
Read your history, religion is only the excuse. Wars are fought over resources.
Yes, when the world is warm and growing seasons are longer man has far more than he deserves. It is so good to see the world cooling again. Shortages of food and fuel will lead to a more peaceful world and man will be put back in his place.
What color is the sky in your world?
Yes, when the world is warm and growing seasons are longer man has far more than he deserves. It is so good to see the world cooling again. Shortages of food and fuel will lead to a more peaceful world and man will be put back in his place.
What color is the sky in your world?
Treehugger, you really have to be careful about who earns the title 'historian.' In the link near the top of your story about 'historians' who think WWIII has already begun, there is really only the work of a lunatic conspiracy-theorists coming to some bizarre conclusions, most of which fly in the face of facts.
Please delete the reference to that site. It's beneath your standards. You can probably find a better one.
Oh my... Well I was going to write a bit of a thrashing response to this but in a bizarre turn of events it seems that people actually replied to this post enforce for me! Thanks guys!
As a side note Religion has been a major motivator for the general masses of people since... like... ever. I mean lets look at the "War on Terror" (ya ya... I know people have different opinions on it but stay with me). Tell a suicide bomber "Go blow yourself up cuz it'll scare people." vs "Go blow yourself up cuz when you die you'll get 72 virgins in a land with rivers of honey and an absolutely WICKED home stereo system." I don't know about you but if I wasn't an atheist and believed a bunch of the mindless drivel that is sometimes spouted by the zealots out there I'd be slightly more inclined by the second arguement than the first.
In saying that ya. War is TOTALLY about resources. Neat video to watch is Robert Newmans "History of Oil". Some of it is paranoia but he does have some interesting theories.
Wether or not there is global warming we should all help recycling anyway. It helps save room on this planet and keeps things neat. Our natural resourses can only last so long before it is all gone. Like they say" Good things don't last forever".
Reading some of these comments makes me think the herd needs to be thinned out. A guy was really citing John Stossel and Penn & Teller instead of the vast majority of climate and atmospheric experts? Do you ask entertainers, lobbyists, and reporters to conduct surgery? If climate experts are wrong, we get clean renewable energy. If you deniers are wrong, the lives of future generations are negatively impacted in extraordinary ways. Of course, the Baby Boomer Generation never cared about the future so why start now. My generation and my grandkids will be left with the bill and a failing planet. Thanks.
The Earth has warmed and cooled since its formation. I am an environmentalist but this man made global warming hysteria is just that - hysteria. We ought to be promoting clean technology based on real science. When the global warming myth busts, it will ultimately hurt the environmental movement. We need to wake up, examine the science and set aside the psychological group think hysteria that has overcome much of the world. When this bubble bursts, it will take legitimate environmental concerns down with it.
I think that the biggest point to global warming, whether you believe that it is happening or not, is that we (inhabitants of earth) need to be more responsible with our resources. In the US, we don't see the changes in the climate because we are a large country with lots of different climates. In Northern Europe, it's very obvious that it things have changed within the last 50 years. There have also been incidents in their past where resources have been mismanaged (ie, over fishing) and this has come back to smack them in the face for years. They are and should be concerned. It amazes me when people argue that there have been warm and cool periods within the past 1000 years - why can't we just recycle, stop dumping into the ocean and develop more friendly fuesl? Why is that such a battle?
WW IV? We haven't even had WWW III, luckily. The historians mentioned above could be right, though
I think - guess - that the authors mean to designate The Cold War (~1946-1988) World War III, since it was a "war" (albeit "cold") between the two great Superpowers using smaller countries often as proxies of the world (planet) during these years. ????
ww3 = war on terror. bush said it himself.
WWIV WHAT HAPPENED TO WWIII.....CANT TELL IF IT IS A TYPO OR WHAT......PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHEN WWIII HAPPENED
Good Lt. and has it right both have it right.
"Stupidity, greed and paranoia" are going to be the end of us all. And if you think about it, we are all terminal, some of us just more than others.
JESUS YOU IDIOTS.. the answer to your stupid question "WHEN DID WE FIGHT WORLD WAR III" HAS BEEN ANSWERED... It's the Cold War, which was our biggest success.