Saturday, March 24, 2012

U.S. Intelligence Report Sees ''Polar Cities'' Coming, Global Water Conflict Risks Rising

U.S. Intelligence Report Expects More Conflicts Over ''Polar Cities'' Admissions, Administration by 2100

-- Headline follows arc of new cli fi novel by Jim Laughter titled POLAR CITY RED, due out on April 22, EARTH DAY

by Staff Writer and Agencies

WASHINGTON -- Fresh water and fresh food supplies are unlikely to keep up with global demand by 2040, increasing the likely need for so-called ''polar cities'' to accommodate a global flood of climate refugees by 2075, as political instability, hobbling economic growth and endangering world food markets, impacts the world, according to a new U.S. intelligence assessment.

The report by the office of the Director of National Intelligence said that areas including South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa will face major challenges in coping with water problems that could hinder the ability to produce food and generate energy. The report said that a “water war” was unlikely in the next 10 years, but that the risk of conflict would grow with global water demand likely to outstrip current sustainable supplies by 40 percent by 2030.

“Beyond 10 years we did see the risk increasing,” a senior U.S. intelligence official told reporters. “It depends upon what individual states do and what actions are taken right now to work water management issues between states.”

The official declined to discuss the risks for billions of climate refugees seeking refuge in far-north UN-administered ''polar cities'', but admitted there were problems and issues there.

Administration of such polar cities, if not planned out well in advance, could lead to rebel governments
taken over the polar cities franchise and running the world from those far-flung outposts post-2100, the un-named official said.

"It's going to be a big problem then," he said. "Who will administer these polar cities and who get it, and who will be kept out?"

The U.S. State Department requested the report, which is part of an effort by the current administration to assess how long-term issues such as climate change may affect U.S. national security.

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