{"id":777,"date":"2017-10-28T11:58:47","date_gmt":"2017-10-28T11:58:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/globalchangeecology.com\/?p=777"},"modified":"2017-10-28T11:58:47","modified_gmt":"2017-10-28T11:58:47","slug":"impactsworld2017part2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/globalchangeecology.com\/2017\/10\/28\/impactsworld2017part2\/","title":{"rendered":"Impacts World Conference \u2013 Potsdam (October 11th to 13th, 2017) PART II"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Katharina Funk<\/a>, Anna-Lena Hendel<\/a>, Claudia Steinacker<\/a><\/p>\n

We have entered a stage of post-truth politics. We need trust in science and facts.
\n–\u00a0<\/em>Prof. Dr. Klaus von Klitzing<\/span><\/p>\n

Eleven GCE students participated and volunteered at the Impacts World Conference in Potsdam, Germany on the impacts of Climate Change, here their impressions on Day\u00a0 2<\/strong> on Climate migration, the PIK’s 25th Anniversary and meeting a Nobel Laureate.<\/em><\/p>\n

Climate Change and Migration<\/h3>\n

Consequences of climate change on humans and climate change adaptation were additional topics covered during the Impacts World conference 2017 <\/a>. We live and will live in a warmer world with new challenges that we need to prepare for. Especially the poor and most vulnerable people will be most affected by expected changes in regional climates, due to decreased food security, livelihood losses and health impacts.<\/p>\n

The war in Syria is just one example of how conflicts around the world are fueled by rising food prices caused by drought. Prof. Dr. Jacqueline McGlade, scientist at the Massai Mara University in Kenya, showed us the connection between malnutrition and the degree of conflict in African countries<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Malnutrition of children<\/span> was shown to lead to brain atrophy, which results in a lower capability to deal peacefully with times of high variability and uncertainty. Without action, malnutrition will likely increase in a warmer world due to drought and other extreme events.<\/p>\n

The higher variability and uncertainty caused by climate change will be another factor contributing to critical situations in many economic poor countries. In the extreme case of the pacific island states like Tuvalu, which are projected to disappear due to rising sea levels, questions arise about where its citizens can find refuge<\/span>, how their legal status will be and if developed countries have to take responsibility according to their greenhouse gas emissions? Until now, climate extremes like drought were usually shown to be a contributor but not the only cause for migration. Interestingly, climate change can also improve cooperation instead of fueling conflicts in periods of drought and other extreme events. Understanding the circumstances in which even extremer conditions lead to cooperation instead of violence is an interesting research field.<\/p>\n