There has been a conspicuous increase in the number of science fiction writers churning out works that include a grim image of planet earth in the future with climate change playing havoc in the lives of people. Of course given the conspicuous climate change in the last couple of years we simply cannot afford to dismiss these stories as flights of fancy. Read more about Investing in Renewable Technologies: Wind, Solar, Geotherm, Hydro, Biomass

While the writers are busy incorporating their vision of the future into their masterpieces; there is another group of futurist; the planners who seem to concur with the imagined version of planet earth in the years to come, given the risks associated with climate change. Even though they are a conservative bunch, their prediction is based on the effects of global warming and climate change on the planet.

Several countries like France as well as the U.S. Natural Resources Agency in California are encouraging people to prepare to bear the brunt of global warming and climate change in the form of hotter weather and rising sea levels.

The threat is considered so imminent that President Sarkozy brought forth a team of acclaimed designers to chalk out a bold vision for the transformation of Paris and its suburbs in the face of climate changes. The US Military has also realized the gravity of the situation and there are growing concerns in the upper echelons of the Pentagon about the catastrophic results of climate change. The ensuing droughts, climate change, violent storms, mass migration and pandemics will prove detrimental for the stability of entire regions and the threat will be potent enough to over topple governments and fuel nefarious terrorist activities.

Another climate change related concern that is turning into an issue for the Pentagon is the presence of the logistic hub of the forces based in the Middle East on an atoll that is only a few feet above sea level. So any rise in sea levels as a result of climate change can have grave military implications.

In 2008, a highly confidential Pentagon report related to the apocalyptic effects of climate change on the global economic and peace scenario was uncovered by The Observer. The report explicitly highlights the perilous effects of climate change which will include dwindling water and food supply, anarchy, limited power access and nuclear threats. The report further states that the effects will be so catastrophic that all the terrorist activity in the world will pale in front of the threat generated by climate change. It is also recommended that climate change should no longer be confined to scientific debates rather it should qualify as a national security concern.

Even Defense big wigs like Retired marine General Anthony Zinni concluded that there were only two possible recourses; either the USA would suffer minor economic set backs today to control greenhouse emission and climate change or the price could  be paid later in military terms.

Many people may conclude that US intervention in controlling climate change has selfish rather than altruistic motives. However, the fact remains that with the US at the forefront of the cause the issue will garner wide spread attention and will see active policy changes.