Climate Change Linked to Global Violence

A team of US researchers has found a strong correlation between changes in climate and violence around the globe. Warmer temperatures and changes in rainfall were linked to increases in assaults, rapes, murders, group conflicts, and even wars. The researchers believe that climate change actually drives up the level of human conflict and suggest a couple of possible explanations for this. Economics, they say, could play a role, as climate change can affect economic conditions that then influence individuals' decision-making. Physiology could also be involved, as studies indicate that heat makes people prone to aggression. More...