Georgetown SFS-Q Hosts Lecture on Global Warming

Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Q) will hold the fourth open lecture in its Climate Change series entitled ‘Global Warming and the Land: Are We Heading for Water Wars in Himalayan Asia?’, at 7pm on November 18th at SFS-Q.

Dr. Brahma Chellaney, will present the lecture that addresses the challenges to the Asian region, most notably water’s emergence as a key strategic resource that could determine if Asia is headed toward cooperation or competition.

Dr. Chellaney, Professor of Strategic Studies at the Centre for Policy Research, New Delhi, India, commented, “Asia’s great river systems rely on the constant flux of glaciers, which will likely bear the greatest impact of climate change. In fact, one of the world’s greatest glacial and snowpack declines is centered in the Great Himalayan Watershed and the adjacent ranges. This extended Himalayan region is home to thousands of glaciers and the source of some of the world’s greatest river systems. This region is also on the frontlines of climate change.”

Dr. Chellaney, has written several books on environmental issues and the latest book, Water: Asia’s New Battleground examines the risk of water becoming a trigger for war or diplomatic strong-arming; consequences especially high Asia, which is home to three-fifths of the human population, yet has the lowest per-capita freshwater availability among all continents.

The discussions make up part of a series of open lectures on climate change held from 11th November to 2nd December at SFS-Q bringing together thought leaders on this topic.