Addressing the climate-conflict nexus: Evidence, insights, and future directions
This paper aims to address the climate-conflict nexus, to share Mercy Corps learning and to make evidence-based recommendations on investments. While the relationship between climate and conflict is nuanced and context-specific, there is increasing evidence of climate change amplifying and compounding existing sources of economic, social and political risks that drive violence. These challenges are most pronounced in fragile states already grappling with weak governance, high rates of poverty and income equality, as well as current or historical violent conflict. The intensification of climate change likely, may further escalate conflict risks, exacerbating threats to peace and stability. Furthermore, many of the people facing protracted crises are also some of those that are predicted to experience the greatest effects from climate change.
The paper concludes with the following three programmatic recommendations:
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Support state, civil society and local stakeholders to strengthen peace and climate resilience;
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Manage use of and competition over natural resources to reduce conflict; and
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Support diverse, climate-smart livelihoods that promote food security.
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