Global Warring: How Environmental, Economic, and Political Crises Will Redraw the World Map

by Cleo Paskal

In a perfect storm, the environment, the global economic system and geopolitics are all undergoing rapid, uncontrolled change. In the same way that the climate is in a state of flux, exhibiting erratic behavior before settling into a new norm, in the wake of the global economic crisis, many of the assumptions about the Western economic system have been destroyed, which leads to some troubling How aggressive will water-hungry China become in order to secure a sufficient supply of it? What will happen when climate-triggered conflicts like the one in Sudan spread throughout the continent? As India takes its proper place at the high table of nations and begins large-scale importing of food, what will happen to already shrinking supplies? Global Warring takes a hard look at these questions. Journalist and analyst Cleo Paskal identifies problem areas that are most likely to start wars, destroy economies and create failed states. Examining the most likely environmental change scenarios, she illuminates the ways in which they could radically alter human existence. A fascinating tour through our uncertain future, Global Warring also offers a controversial new way forward for the global economy and the worldwide environmental crisis.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Climate Change, Science

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 5, 2010

Reviews

[Fidelis Eka Satriastanti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to this book, I can now consider the non-environment/politics/economics books are 'light reading'. Seriously. However, I think this is a great book, it gives a very critical view on environment changes and its roles, on politics and economics. The argument presented on this book consists of two things :

1. People only consider on impacts of the environment but fail to include how environment can or will change people's lives. People often only mention what they can do to nature but neglect to consider what nature can do to them.

2. Basically, no country is prepared for climate change. Yep! Not even the US.

3. Geopolitics means be friendly with countries which could benefit your country.

Note to self : will need to read it again in the (not-so-near) future, I hope.

[Peter Kouwenberg · Rating 1 out of 5]

WAR? WHAT WAR?

Looking backward rather than forward.
Written in kitchen table style.
US centric. Yet, good picture of secondary effects. She can do better.

[Dave Sippel]

I didn't actually finish this book, as it was a library loan. I did get a good sense of what it was about, however. Paskal explains past societal collapses and catastrophes that were caused, at least in part, by climate change. One such example is the Sumerian civilization, which had an extensive irrigation system in the ancient Middle East. However, the irrigation had the side effect of bleeding the rivers dry and creating desertification. This led to collapse of agriculture and increased social instability and warfare, as outside forces took advantage of the weakened Sumerians.

She applies this to the modern day in countries such as India and China. She explains that man-made climate change has destabilized the monsoons that hit India annually, which farmers depend on for their crops. Global warming has also reduced the size of Himalayan glaciers, which feed the rivers of India and China. In regards to China, the desertification of the northern part of the country has worsened, Paskal says, and the southern regions have tried to compensate by sending water northward. However, due to the lack of clean water regulations and extremely toxic water from raw sewage and factory waste, much of this water is unfit for use. This, she says, will exacerbate traditional social tensions between northern and southern Chinese.

In regards to the US, she claims that tensions will increase between America and.....Canada. The idea is that as Arctic ice melts, the Arctic Ocean will become open for shipping, much of which is illegal. She claims that Russian mafia forces based in Siberia have gained entry to Canada due to the lack of sea ice. American national security teams fear that a lack of Canadian military forces makes Canada weak and unable to defend it's boarders. This may lead to the American government imposing its will on our northern neighbors.


These are all interesting scenarios, but I did get a "crystal ball" feeling while reading the book. How can we know what will happen between now and the time that these things will allegedly happen? It is a book worth reading, and hopefully will make its readers question our future.

[Stirling Davenport · Rating 5 out of 5]

This marvelous book is a must-read that gives a global perspective on the way that international corporations and governments are jockeying for control of the changing environment. Given the way that shipping lanes are already changing, coastlines and ports being eroded, rail lines becoming useless where permafrost is melting, changes in monsoon production from the Himalayan glaciers melting, and all the other effects of climate change, some companies are poised to make a huge amount of money. As usual, the race is not so much to the swift as it is to the one with the longest view. Great book.

[JC Olsthoorn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleo's writing is crisp and clear, and effortless. Her work is well researched and well thought out. Although I much prefer the style of writing she uses for her wonderful travel pieces, it would not be really appropriate for this kind of work. Too bad, in a way, and no fault in it. Have a much better understanding of global warring after reading this book. Look forward to more from her.

[Nils · Rating 2 out of 5]

On the climate science, this book is entirely derivative, covering familiar stories in familiar ways; on the prescriptive side, it relies overly reliant on Paskal's mentors at the Galston Institute, a neo-eugenicist outfit

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book reads like a series of articles from the Economist. It is a middle-brow book about the effects that a changing environment will have on international relations as well as a series of prescriptions for dealing with climate change. Nothing really new here, but it is a nice compendium.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing particularly new here, but the author breaks down the pending effects on the Pacific islands and the resultant geopolitical fallout very well.