The climate emergency is changing everything: the fuels countries use, the number of people on the move, how food systems work, and so on. These all have an impact on geopolitics and the global balance of power. 

A prime example is the Arctic region. Melting ice is uncovering more oil, fossil gas, and other valuable resources, and governments and companies are hoping to gain from these developments. This has led to an increased military presence in the region, raising concerns about potential conflict. Nations are laying claim to previously inaccessible areas, including the seabed, while countries as far away as China are claiming they are ‘near-Arctic nations’ with a right to exploit the region. Meanwhile, the thaw is opening up new sea lanes for trade and tourism, presenting challenges for navigation and shipping, including concerns about safety, security, and the environmental impacts of increased traffic.

International laws, norms, and institutions will have to keep up with the geopolitical challenges presented by the climate emergency. They will have to stop these challenges spilling over into conflict and ensure that the rights of people and ecosystems are not just protected but deepened.

This card has an ongoing effect.

After this card is triggered in the Crisis stage, players may not use effects that allow them to give cards to other players.

To discard this card, players must tuck 2 Society tags under it during the Local stage.

• The Geopolitics of Climate Change (E3G)

• Let’s Place Sustainability and Climate Change at the Heart of International Policy (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace)

• The Global South has the power to force radical climate action (Al Jazeera)

• A new security challenge: The geopolitical implications of climate change - Atlantic Council (Atlantic Council)