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Earth

Civil war in Africa has no link to climate change

By Peter Aldhous

8 September 2010

New Scientist. Science news and long reads from expert journalists, covering developments in science, technology, health and the environment on the website and the magazine.

Temperature is not the issue

(Image: Daniel Pepper/Getty)

THE idea that global warming will increase the incidence of civil conflict in Africa is wrong, according to a new study. What’s more, the researchers who previously made the claim now concede that civil conflict has been on the wane in Africa since 2002, as prosperity has increased. If the trend continues, a more peaceful future may be in store.

A link between climate change and conflict was discovered last year, when a team led by Marshall Burke of the University of California at Berkeley and David Lobell of Stanford University,…

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