Environmental Change and Conflict · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

When the Land Runs Short

Geography · People & Environments · ages 11-14
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. Which of these is an example of cooperation between countries over the environment?

    • Two neighboring countries competing over the same shrinking grazing land
    • An international agreement to cut down on gases that warm the climate
    • A country closing its borders to trade

  2. Which of these is an example of environmentally-driven tension between people?

    • Two countries arguing over a shared river that is running low on water
    • Two countries signing a treaty to split river water fairly
    • A country planting trees to restore a forest

  3. As land, water, or food become scarcer, the people who depend on them are more likely to end up in tension over what is left.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Two countries share a river. Instead of fighting over the water, they sign an agreement on how much each side can use. What is this an example of?

    • Cooperation
    • Migration
    • Deforestation

  5. Herders in a dry region move their animals onto farmland because the grazing land has dried up. What is the most likely result?

    • The farmers happily give up their fields
    • The drought ends as soon as the herders move
    • Tension with the farmers, since they now need the same land

  6. A drought shrinks the harvest, so there is less food to sell. What usually happens next in the chain?

    DroughtSmaller harvest?
    • The smaller harvest doesn't affect anyone
    • Food prices rise, since there is less to sell
    • The next harvest instantly becomes bigger

  7. Which chain correctly shows how environmental change can lead to conflict?

    • Drought, then smaller harvest, then rising prices, then migration
    • Rising prices, then drought, then migration, then smaller harvest
    • Migration, then smaller harvest, then drought, then rising prices

  8. A student says: "Environmental change always leads to war and never to cooperation." What is wrong with this claim?

    • Environmental change never affects countries
    • Wars are always caused by environmental change alone
    • Environmental pressure can also push countries to work together, such as through treaties
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

When the Land Runs Short W1-mt_Vlp61dF3KL-s1

  1. An international agreement to cut down on gases that warm the climate · An agreement like this lets countries tackle a shared problem together instead of each acting alone.
  2. Two countries arguing over a shared river that is running low on water · When a shared river shrinks, both countries need the same limited water, and that can lead to arguments.
  3. True · When there is less to go around, the groups who need it are more likely to compete for it.
  4. Cooperation · Agreeing on shared limits, instead of fighting, is cooperation.
  5. Tension with the farmers, since they now need the same land · The herders and farmers now both need the same shrinking land, which can lead to conflict.
  6. Food prices rise, since there is less to sell · When there is less food to go around, prices usually go up to match the shortage.
  7. Drought, then smaller harvest, then rising prices, then migration · Each step causes the next: drought shrinks the harvest, which raises prices, which can push people to migrate.
  8. Environmental pressure can also push countries to work together, such as through treaties · Shared environmental problems can push countries toward conflict or toward cooperation. It is not always one or the other.
Worksheet · LightMySky