Ultimate Security: The Environmental Basis of Political Stability

Just as the Cold War has dominated the last four decades, environmental conflicts will become the ``principle threat to security and peace'' in the years ahead, argues Myers ( Future Worlds ). In a provocative description of the new concept of environmental security, which he helped establish, the author offers much evidence that environmental factors--from deforestation and desertification to global warming and ozone depletion--will loom larger in world affairs. His book is chockablock with recent portents: how loss of topsoil in the Philippines pushed citizens to the guerrilla side; how Britain and Iceland nearly clashed over marine fisheries; how the threatened cut-off of water flows from rivers outside its borders helped cause Israel's 1967 war against the Arabs. Looking ahead, Myers examines major international regions and predicts loss of stability or out-and-out conflict over natural resource-related issues in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent and elsewhere. The number of ``environmental refugees'' alone could reach 400 million, he claims, as the greenhouse effect kicks in, causing higher sea levels and flooding. The author urges United States-led collective action by the world's nations. (Sept.)