Climate Conflicts: African Water Scarcity
A recent video by Yale Environment 360 highlights a dire consequence of climate change – scarce resources are leading to violent inter-tribal conflicts in Ethiopia and Kenya, particularly in the Omo River Valley. Since the 1970s, rising temperatures and increasingly frequent droughts have lowered river levels and forced Ethiopian tribes to move south into Kenya in search of water and pastures. Famines have become increasingly common as tribes find less arable land to cultivate crops and raise animals Often, these tribes then migrate to the same area of land and compete for what little resources they can find.
This competition for scarce resources, fueled by famine and droughts, has exacerbated tensions among African tribes and has led to an outbreak of violence in the region. Climate change will likely increase the frequency and intensity of these events; this is only the first of what may be many “climate change conflicts.” According to a UN report, 300 million people in Africa face water scarcity. By 2025, almost half the world’s population is projected to have a shortage of water, leading to increased conflicts in places such as the Middle East, India, and China.
Currently, the U.S. focuses on providing humanitarian relief and food to areas facing water shortages. But this is only a temporary fix; it will not stop the occurrence of such extreme weather events. Instead, we need to focus on long-term sustainable development solutions that sufficiently address instability and resource scarcity in affected regions.
