"Competition between communities and countries for scarce resources, especially water, is increasing, exacerbating old security dilemmas and creating new ones, while environmental refugees are reshaping the human geography of the planet, a trend that will only increase as deserts advance, forests are felled and sea levels rise." By formulating such a strong statement during the July 2011 debate on climate change and security in the UN Security Council, UN Secretary-General Ban Kimoon underscored the urgent need to assess the implications of climate change for conflicts and environmentally induced migration.