The Climate Change Crisis: Ensuring Integration of Conflict Prevention and Climate Change in U.S. Foreign Policy and Development Assistance

Publisher: Alliance for Peacebuilding

Authors: Liz Hume and Nick Zuroski

Publication date: August 2021

Abstract: The climate change crisis is an emergency for conflict-affected and fragile states because climate change, violent conflict, and fragile states are interconnected crises. Conflict experts also believe the risks of both climate change and violent conflict compound each other. Climate change can destabilize social conditions and hinder effective climate change response to climate adaptation and climate hazards. Integration of these sectors is critical to prevent and reduce violent conflict, build sustainable peace, and address the climate change crisis.

Recommendations:

1     USAID, the State Department, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, and other key U.S. agencies, along with the National Security Council, must elevate climate offices to promote whole-of-government strategic incorporation of climate principles into foreign assistance and national security.

2    The Department of Defense should develop a comprehensive measurable plan to reduce its carbon footprint and an environmental impact study before using military force and present those plans to appropriate committees of Congress. 

3     Integrate conflict prevention into climate change programs. 

4     Recognize that successful integration of climate and conflict requires a community-driven, human rights-based approach.

5     Both the climate and conflict prevention communities need to expand their knowledge to create a shared language.

6     Support governments (national and subnational), CSOs, NGOs, and communities to develop context-appropriate institutions and programming to anticipate and resolve climate-driven and climate-enhanced conflicts.

7     Take a people-centered approach to climate and conflict integration that brings immediate impacts and outcomes to balance long-term resilience with addressing acute humanitarian crises. 

8   Climate and and conflict prevention experts need to establish a shared, overarching long-term strategy.