Climate change : Is it the greatest security threat of the 21st century?

Abstract

Tuvalu's mainland is only about 3,300km from Australia, and they are familiar enough to use the Australian dollar as their national currency. Is global warming only a national threat for Tuvalu and their immediate regional neighbours or for Australia too? It is not just about geography - it is necessary to consider the effect of global warming on world health, migration, defence policy, trade and, ultimately, the threat of foreign conflicts, organized crime and terrorism.