What is global warming, and why will it create climate refugees?
Global warming, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is "an increase in the earth's atmospheric and oceanic temperatures widely predicted to occur due to an increase in the greenhouse effect resulting especially from pollution." The rising tides created by these rising temperatures will create a new type of refugees; climate refugees. For example, a three foot sea level rise in Bangladesh, which is projected by the end of the century, would cause 20 million people to become displaced [1]. There are many other countries and island nations in similar situations. Based on the number of people that could be displaced by climate change, climate refugees could become one of the biggest global issues in the future. While it is hard to know exactly when and how many climate refugees will be displaced, it is important to prepare for them as early as possible.
Carbon Dioxide levelsLevels of carbon dioxide are currently spiking. NASA states that "Ninety-seven percent of climate scientists agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities."
|
Stephan JermendyStephan explains how climate refugees are not just environmental issue, but also a human rights issue. Stephan also talks about the accountability of climate refugees.
|
Further Readings (click to visit article)
1) "Climate change 'will create the world biggest refugee crisis'" -Matthew Taylor
2) "Climate change Could Threaten Up To 2 Billion Refugees By 2100" -Alexander Kaufman
3) "The Making of a Climate Refugee" -Kenneth Weiss
2) "Climate change Could Threaten Up To 2 Billion Refugees By 2100" -Alexander Kaufman
3) "The Making of a Climate Refugee" -Kenneth Weiss
Climate Change experts - University of washington
The University of Washington employs many professors at the forefront of climate change research. The professors most pertinent to climate refugees are listed below. For a list of all climate change experts at the university, click here!
LuAnne Thompson
Professor, Oceanography and Director, UW Program on Climate Change
[email protected] | 206-543-9965 | Web Expertise: Climate models, including impact of climate change on heat uptake and large-scale ocean currents; ocean’s role in climate change; Sea-level rise; Satellite observations of sea-level rise |
Joe Casola
Deputy director, UW Climate Impacts Group
[email protected] | 206-616-5347 | Web Expertise: Regional climate change, climate adaptation policy, extreme events, snowpack |
Sara Curran
Associate professor, Jackson School of International Studies
[email protected] | 206-459-9236 | Web Expertise: Impacts of climate change on people in the developing world. |
[1] Glennon, Robert. “The Unfolding Tragedy of Climate Change in Bangladesh.” Scientific American , 21 Apr. 2017, blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/the-unfolding-tragedy-of-climate-change-in-bangladesh/.