Although humans are changing the climate, they are also having other impacts upon the global ecosystems. The point of these stories is not climate change. At least not the point I’m trying to make. My focus is on the human tragedy that is happening now in both Egypt and Sudan and the immediate causes of each. We can draw a straight line from the drought in Russia to the soaring prices of wheat in Egypt. We can draw a straight line from the drought in Sudan and the conflict between the farmers and the nomads. I believe there is a connection between what anthropogenic climate change and what is happening there. I don’t have the time, space, or expertise to debate that here. I do know that humans are stressing the world’s water cycle greatly. We are pushing the planetary boundaries. Climate change is only one of them.
PRI The World: High food prices in Egypt and climate change
http://www.theworld.org/2011/02/03/food-prices-egypt-climate-change/
Christian Science Monitor: Climate change escalates Darfur crisis
Less rainfall on the fringes of the Sahara Desert is putting more of a strain on resources than ever before. http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0727/p01s04-woaf.html?sms_ss=twitter&at_xt=4d52e4cd19458486,0
PS – I’d composed this before Mubarak stepped down. I hope that the people of Egypt will finally be able to elect a Democratic and free government.