Competition over resources: Drivers of insecurity and the Global South

'By 2050, the global population is expected to peak at 9 billion. In an environment already constrained and changed by human activities, we can expect greater scarcity of three resources vital to the maintenance of both the economic order as it now stands, and the preservation of human life in general: energy, water and food. At current population levels, demand for some key resources is already unsustainable. As the number of people on the planet - and the number of people living “affluent” lifestyles - increases, and the effects of climate change are factored in, greater competition over resources is highly probable – affecting individuals, communities and states.'

This paper is the first in a series of four papers written as part of the Sustainable Security and the Global South project, one each covering four likely drivers of insecurity over coming decades: competition over resources, climate change, marginalisaiton of the majority world and global militarisation.

Each paper is the result of long-term collaboration between ORG and partners across the 'Global South'. This collaborative network - made up of activists, analysts and academics from a range of think tanks, civil society organisation and research institutes - have recommended background reading, provided expert review and written illuminating case studies commission for each paper.

See the full article here.

Image source: Maks Karochkin