There is no doubt that the ‘everyday staples’ will be affected by climate change. Temperature rises will reduce growing seasons, increase heat stress and increase the range of various pests and disease vectors. Just as the English lawn turns yellow in summer, maize will wilt and die. The Earth is getting warmer and crops are feeling its effects. Consequently, agriculture – always sensitive to its environment – is facing its biggest test in decades. It causes floods across Northern India whilst turning Southern Spain into a desert. It is ironic that one of the geographical factors that helped Europe conquer the world is now pushing it into a retreat.Īnother geographical factor, climate change, goes well beyond that cliché image of a lonesome polar bear. To the West, the European plains, a flat relief, easily navigable and a moderate climate. To the East are the Zagros and Elburz mountain ranges to the South, the Syrian desert neither are particularly hospitable or inviting to humans. Syrian refugees enter Europe partly because geography leaves little alternative. They show that anti-immigration arguments of misled compassion are missing a major point. So now, turning to your nearest atlas, flick to the relief map of the Middle East and glance at the contours. Maps should be used more – they illustrate points in a direct manner that is hard to ignore. When talking about geography it’s hard not to use a map. Why? Because time and time again the physical world proves it can quickly overwhelm the human one when single states are simply not able to cope with a geography that ignores the human notions of sovereignty or national borders. First edition of Abraham Ortelius‘ map of Asia (1572), displaying a vast network of waterways across East Asia, advocating his belief that a shipping route existed through China to the Northern Sea and thence, by way of the Northeast Passage, to Europe.ĭespite what would appear to be voters’ best attempts to say otherwise, there is still a case for multilateralism.
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