Supporting peace and security through climate change mitigation

Climate change is one of mankind’s greatest threats.

Its negative effects have an impact on the health and wellbeing of people and the planet. Further, they are also closely related to peace and security – especially in vulnerable and fragile contexts.

Thanks to our global network of scientists and practitioners across various disciplines, as well as through our partnerships, the Alliance is best positioned to spearhead initiatives that ensure climate security, tackle climate change and its impacts, promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.

By developing evidence-based approaches to tackle conflict with a climate-sensitive lens, and climate change with a conflict-sensitive lens, our work is driving security, peace, and climate action globally.

The connection between climate change and conflict

Climate security and peacebuilding are deeply connected.

For instance, extreme weather events brought forward by climate change can lead to reduced access to natural resources, which could result in hostility. Further, armed conflicts make climate security more challenging to implement as governments and their development partners are unable to neither mitigate nor support climate change adaptation.

Whatsmore, efforts to fight climate change can voluntarily or involuntarily limit access to land, water, and food resources: over time, this can increase disputes over natural resources in a way that can turn violent.

Working together to ensure peace, security, climate action

The Alliance’s Strategy 2020-2025 frames climate security and peacebuilding as a cross-cutting initiative, crucial for many of our themes including Multifunctional Landscapes, Climate Action, Agrobiodiversity.

Under these premises, our scientists collaborate with researchers from other organizations, academia, international organizations, CSOs, and governments, to design integrated solutions that tackle the climate crisis, while also building social cohesion in areas affected by conflict.

Lastly, by enabling participatory approaches, we are piloting the use of land-based and food systems perspectives, actively informing climate action in fragile and vulnerable contexts.

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