Final Paper

Topic: Global Warming: The Melting Alpine Glaciers and The Torrid >>> (change this word) Conflict Of Kashmir

I. Introduction

Kashmir is a mountainous region that India and Pakistan has fought over for the past 60 years. The area has a fertile valley and snow-capped mountains thereby sometimes being referred to as the “Switzerland of the East.” The change in global climate has effected on the glaciers, whose melt is the source for the many of the region’s major rivers, are melting, jeopardizing water supplies for the region. There has been conflict between India and Pakistan, as India still controls the area that is the origin of Pakistan’s main water resources (Caponera, 1987). As a result, there is potential risk for an already volatile situation to become even worse as the impacts of global climate result in shrinking water supplies by melting glaciers and a scramble for control over the scarce remaining water resources.

II. Environment Aspects

A) Type of Environmental Problem: Global Warming

Climate change is essentially a major concern. There is too much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which is affecting the natural processes.

B) Type of Habitat: Temperate

The climate varies; it is drier and cooler at high elevations in the Northern Areas and it is wetter at the south of the mountains where the monsoons are experienced.

C) Act and Harm Sites: India and Pakistan (Kashmir)

The conflict in this case is the result of a commons act impacting the water resources of the Indian subcontinent.

III. Conflict Aspects

A) Type of Conflict: War between India and Pakistan over control of a disputed region along a shared boarder.

B) Level of Conflict: Interstate, Harm

C) Fatality Level of Dispute (military and civilian fatalities)

IV. Environment and Conflict Overlap

A) Environment and Conflict Linkage and Dynamics

B) Level of Strategic Interest

C) Outcome of Dispute

Conclusion

As many related cases support, by and large no conflict regarding water rights has ended gently, if it conclusively ended at all (Alam, 2002). Water is a necessity for economic development, and countries like India and Pakistan need every resource available to move their economy and in their desperation to get ahead they are not willing to compromise.

References

Alam, U. (2002). Questioning the water wars rational: a case study of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Geographical Journal, 168 (4), pp. 354-64.

Raman, Anita D. (2004). Of Rivers and Human Rights: The Northern Areas, Pakistan's Forgotten Colony in Jammu and Kashmir. International Journal on Minority & Group Rights 11.1/2 187-228. Academic Search Premier. 29 April 2007. http://search.ebscohost.com, 192.

“Kashmir." Encyclopædia Britannica. (2007). Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 29 Apr. 2007 http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9043328

Caponera, D. (1987). International Water Resources Law in the Indus Basin. In Water Resources Policy for Asia, ed. M. Ali. Boston : Balkema (4), pp. 509-515