A Dangerous Intersection: Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, & Inadequate Governance as Drivers of Armed Conflict

Climate Change, Environmental Degradation, & Inadequate Governance as Drivers of Armed Conflict and Large-Scale Criminal Violence

Climate change is not just an environmental and human security issue; it acts as a risk multiplier, contributing to armed group conflict and recruitment. The panel will explore how climate change, compounded by human-induced environmental degradation and ineffective governance, creates a dangerous dynamic that can lead to large-scale armed or criminal violence 

For instance, MEAC research in Northwest Nigeria shows how irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, and poor land management have escalated competition over resources, particularly between farmers and herders, and sparking a surge in banditry that now surpasses Boko Haram violence. In Chad, the shrinking Lake Chad and suspended land use policies have aggravated historic conflicts between farmers and pastoralists, hindering the reintegration of former Boko Haram associates seeking to reclaim land.

adelphi’s Africa Climate Security Risk Assessment reveals similar trends in South Sudan, Somalia, Mali, and Mozambique, where non-state armed groups exploit climate-related risks, offering their own conflict resolution services and using extreme weather to their advantage. They exploit climate-related livelihood insecurity for recruitment while engaging in illegal resource extraction, further degrading the environment.

Similarly, Iraq faces increasing climate threats, including extreme weather, water scarcity, and food insecurity, which strain social cohesion and state capacity. Governance issues and damaged infrastructure, worsened by decades of conflict, hinder effective responses to climate-related challenges. Despite this, Berghof’s work in Iraq highlights that environmental issues can create opportunities for dialogue and cooperation.

This peace panel will explore how climate change, human-induced environmental degradation, and governance failures contribute to organized and large-scale violence, and discuss strategies to address these interconnected issues.

Introductory Remarks

• Aurélie Rime - Programme Officer, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland

Speakers

• Lukas Rüttinger - Senior Advisor, adelphi
• Chitra Nagarajan - Expert, Climate Security Expert Network
• Angélica Rojas Moncada - Coordinadora Regional Guaviare, Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS)
• Dr. Chris Coulter - Deputy Executive Director, Executive Office, Berghof Foundation

Moderator

• Dr. Siobhan O’Neil - Head of Project, MEAC, UNIDIR

Interpretation

Interpretation services are available for all events during Geneva Peace Week, both on-site and online, through Wordly AI.

Live streaming

All events during Geneva Peace Week will be available on-site and online.

Main Organizer

• United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR)

Co-Organizers

• adelphi
• Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS)
• Berghof Foundation
• Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), Switzerland