Some of America's domestic policies aimed at curbing climate change could become increasingly responsible for conflict in the Global South. If, for instance, the wealthier north continues to pursue technology-heavy "green growth" climate policies, the south could suffer yet more from the inherent violence of resource extraction. 

In her recently published paper, "Peace Studies and the Limits to Growth," Selina Gallo-Cruz, associate professor of sociology, lays out the ways the widespread violence and injustice implicit in the global North's quest for growth—green or otherwise—has affected other communities around the world.

Citing the work of organizations like Global Witness in conflict zones worldwide, Gallo-Cruz points out that a significant part of the violence on this planet comes from the North's "extraction of natural resources through mining or deforestation—palm oil plantations are a big one—and mega-, mega-agricultural projects," all of which lead to "outbreaks of very violent conflict."

Read more in the Salon article, "We’re having a violent meltdown: The human costs of global warming — and of our response to it."