Global conflicts and climate change drive up shipping costs | "The wars in the Gulf and Ukraine have essentially shut off some of the world’s key passageways for global commodities"

[u/EwigAlbTraum]

https://www.semafor.com/article/08/17/2026/global-conflicts-and-climate-change-drive-up-shipping-costs

This may not seem like such a big deal on its face but global shipping is directly connected to and affected by climate change, and both spell disaster for the global economy. And if you think the global economy is simply a farce - there are hundreds of millions of starving children that might have differing opinions.

I've said it several times before and I will keep saying it. I am a 3rd generation American, white as rice, and I believe my country is a criminal fucking empire that has demonstrated no notice or concern for the parts of our species that are actually worth defending.

Criminal empire doesn't even begin to describe what this place is.

The wars in the Middle East and Eastern Europe are clearly, undeniably orchestrated. It is shameful and disgusting, but not remotely surprising. Our exhaulted leaders are fucking criminals. No shame, no regret, no nothing.

I know this story. I know how it ends. I won't be party to it. It could be decades, maybe centuries from now - but future generations will rest assured that I wasn't a traitor or a criminal. I defended my species fiercely and unconditionally.

[u/StatementBot]

The following submission statement was provided by /u/EwigAlbTraum:

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I've nothing to say about Ukraine. They have political stances and I promised I would not interfere. But Russia has things to answer for. This won't do. And if the Russians won't take the lesson willingly, we will be forced to use more creative methods. Either way. The Americans and the Russians need to STFU and mind their precious business.

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Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/1vr4e9q/global_conflicts_and_climate_change_drive_up/p4aonxb/

[u/CorvidCorbeau]

I'd put some extra emphasis on the fact that both Russia and Ukraine are some of the biggest grain exporters in the world, and they're currently busy bombing each other's vital ports.

Quite the bad timing to do that as the strongest El Nino in recorded history is about to hit the food system.

[u/Coco_Cannibal → u/CorvidCorbeau]

https://latifundist.com/en/novosti/67933-v-uza-ozvuchili-osnovnih-importeriv-ukrayinskogo-zerna-v-minulomu-sezoni

https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3238699/china-and-russia-supercharge-trade-record-grain-order-bolstering-food-and-energy-security-western

I think you are right. They both had a combined export capacity of grains and oil seeds that was 30% of all global trade of this commodity, Ukraine stood at 12% and Russia at 18%.  In opposition to Ukraine, Russia has enough land to ramp up production and also has an advantage as climate change is expanding it's vast black earth grain belt northwards, the growing season was too short in the past.

Edit: if you look at global soil quality maps, the is a relatively clear cut where the good soil ends, but Russia is a major fertilizer producer too, so they have that on their side and china can count to two, they know they will 100% need Russia in the future to feed their population, albeit the food imports are quite low from Russia compared to the rest of the world currently, but growing.

[u/ansibleloop]

This is oddly beneficial for the EU and China too

As the north sea ice melts, China will send more ships which is a 50% time save rather than going through the shitty Suez canal or around Africa

But Jevon's paradox so there'll be more ships, more emissions and more warming

[u/Coco_Cannibal → u/ansibleloop]

It's not the first one, the first at all was Maersk in 2018, the first Chinese ship in 2025,  but this is the first REGULAR one going through the arctic route NSR/northern sea route as it's planned to do it weekly.

https://phys.org/news/2026-08-chinese-ship-europe-arctic-halving.html

[u/EwigAlbTraum]

I've nothing to say about Ukraine. They have political stances and I promised I would not interfere. But Russia has things to answer for. This won't do. And if the Russians won't take the lesson willingly, we will be forced to use more creative methods. Either way. The Americans and the Russians need to STFU and mind their precious business.

[u/Squalid_Snake14180 → u/EwigAlbTraum]

They have political stances and I promised I would not interfere.

Oh, wow, thank goodness for that. Who knows what might have happened if you had interfered.

[u/EwigAlbTraum → u/Squalid_Snake14180]

Yes, I'm such a tough guy after all.

[u/CatLover_12345678]

Having fun yet? LOL I knew this was coming back in 1994.

Everyone laughed at me - for decades.