Washington, (ANI): A new research has
shown that as the earth’s average temperature rises, so does human
“heat” in the form of violent tendencies, which links global
warming with increased violence in human beings.

Using US government data on average yearly temperatures and the
number of violent crimes between 1950 and 2008, the researchers
estimate that if the annual average temperature in the US increases
by 4.4 degree Celsius, the yearly murder and assault rate will
increase by 34 per 100,000 people - or 100,000 more per year in a
population of 305 million.

While the global warming science has recently come under fire,
the main premise behind the Iowa State researchers’ research paper
is irrefutable.

“It is very well researched and what I call the
‘heat hypothesis’,” Anderson said.

“When people get hot, they behave more aggressively. There’s
nothing new there and we’re all finding the same thing. But of the
three ways that global warming is going to increase aggression and
violence, that’s probably the one that’s going to have the most
direct impact - even on developed, wealthy countries, because they
have warm regions too,” he added.

The ISU researchers analyzed existing research - including an
update on a study Anderson authored in 1997 - on the effects of
rising temperature on aggression and risk factors for delinquency
and criminal behavior.

In addition to the “heat hypothesis,” they report that rising
global temperatures also increases known risk factors for the
development of aggression in violence-prone individuals, such as
increasing poverty, growing up amid scarce resources, malnutrition
and food insecurity.

They contended that one of the most catastrophic effects of
climate change will be food availability, producing more
violence-prone individuals in the process.

“While there is some link between temperature and aggression,
really the effects (of climate change) are going to be more
indirect if those temperature changes affect the amount of food we
can produce, coupled with population growth,” said Matt DeLisi, an
associate professor of sociology and director of ISU’s criminal
justice program.

“Then where the real damage will be done is
malnutrition, because that sets in motion these other developments
(risk factors) that then lead to crime,” he added.

The researchers cited ecomigration, civil unrest, genocide and
war as the third way global warming is going to increase
violence.

They report research finding that rapid climate change can lead
to changes in the availability of food, water, shelter and other
necessities of life.

Such shortages can also lead to civil war and unrest, migration
to adjacent regions and conflict with people who already live in
that region, and even to genocide and war. (ANI)