In 2018, the Toda Peace Institute and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (University of Otago) organised a workshop on “Climate Change and Conflict in the Pacific: Prevention, Management and the Enhancement of Community Resilience” in Auckland, New Zealand. Concerned about the challenges and potential conflicts resulting from climate change in the Pacific Islands Countries, academics, policymakers, peacebuilding practitioners and civil society actors participated in the discussions. The workshop resulted in the publication of the ‘Toda Pacific Declaration on Climate Change Conflict and Peace’ in July 2019.
This declaration highlights:
1) the need for integrated foundations that bring together contemporary and traditional modes to achieve climate change adaptation and mitigation responses;
2) the risk of an escalation of climate change-related conflicts across the Pacific;
3) the potential need to resettle communities;
4) the importance to consider dimensions central to Pacific people’s lives and cultures which are not usually addressed in climate discourse.
You can get more information and endorse the declaration here.
Photocredit: Flickr/Paul from La Lente Photography.