Abstract
One of the least appreciated mechanisms by which climate change will affect infectious diseases is via increased violent conflict. Climate change will diminish agricultural and pastoral resources and increase food scarcity in many areas, including already impoverished equatorial regions. Many in the defence and public health fields anticipate that climate change will increase conflict by fuelling competition over scarce resources. Already, some commentators argue that the conflicts in Darfur and Syria were partially caused or exacerbated by climate change. Conflict facilitates a range of conditions conducive to the spread of many infectious diseases, including malnutrition, forced migration, unhygienic living conditions and widespread sexual assault. Flight or killing of health personnel inhibits vaccination, vector control and disease surveillance programs. Emergence of new diseases may go undetected and discovery of outbreaks could be suppressed for strategic reasons. These conditions combine to increase the risk of pandemics.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Natural Resources Management |
| Subtitle of host publication | Concepts, Methodologies, Tools, and Applications |
| Publisher | IGI Global |
| Pages | 1309-1324 |
| Number of pages | 16 |
| Volume | 3-2 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9781522508045 |
| ISBN (Print) | 1522508031, 9781522508038 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 8 Sept 2016 |