In the twenty-first century, climate has become one of the most significant elements of geopolitical power. It is no longer merely a natural phenomenon affecting the environment and the economy; rather, it has evolved into a strategic factor closely linked to national security and international conflicts. With the increasing crises of droughts, floods, water scarcity, and rising global temperatures, concepts such as “climate hostility” and “weather warfare” have emerged. These concepts refer to the use of climate or the manipulation of weather phenomena as tools of political, military, or economic pressure.
Climate hostility refers to the exploitation of environmental and climatic changes to weaken rivals or reinforce international dominance, whether through the control of natural resources or through weather modification technologies. “Weather warfare,” on the other hand, refers to the use of technology to intentionally influence weather and climate systems in order to achieve military or political objectives.
Weather warfare involves the deliberate use of environmental or atmospheric modification techniques to influence weather conditions. These techniques include:
* Artificial rainmaking.
* Cloud seeding.
* Atmospheric humidity control.
* Manipulation of the ionosphere.
* Steering storms or disrupting rainfall.
Climate hostility and weather warfare represent some of the most dangerous transformations in the nature of contemporary international conflict. Climate has become a strategic factor that directly affects national security, economic stability, and political sovereignty. With the rapid advancement of technology and artificial intelligence, concerns are growing over the possibility of using the environment as an unconventional weapon in future conflicts.
Accordingly, strengthening international cooperation, developing legal frameworks regulating climate modification, and investing in climate justice are essential steps to prevent the climate crisis from becoming a permanent source of global geopolitical conflict.
Dr. Anees Ali - Department of Medical Physics - Faculty of Science - AL_mustaqbal University.
"AL_mustaqbal University is the first university in Iraq."