The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is home to over sixteen million refugees and internally displaced persons due to decades of conflict and instability, and the United Nations estimates that over seventy million people in the region need humanitarian assistance. At the same time, it is one of the most vulnerable places in the world to the deleterious effects of climate change; the region has seen 0.2°C (0.36°F) of warming between 1961 and 1990, and the rate of warming is intensifying.

Ahead of COP28, this joint paper from the Centre on Armed Groups and ODI examines the failure the address climate adaptation in conflict areas and areas beyond state control. The current climate adaptation paradigm focuses overwhelmingly on states, neglecting conflict areas, which are among the worst impacted by climate change and the least prepared to adapt. The paper explores what is driving the conflict climate gap and examines the opportunities and challenges for climate adaptation in conflict affected and non-state-controlled areas.

This Thursday, 30 November, the 28th United Nations Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP) will kick off in Dubai. The annual world summit serves as a meeting point for states, regional organisations, and non-state actors to discuss action in dealing with climate change and environmental loss. The ambition is to reduce human interference with the climate system.

The following text is an abstract of a new essay written by Kyungmee Kim & Tània Ferré Garcia. It was published by International Studies Review on 15 November 2023.

The following text is a newsarticle published by UNDP on 11 November 2023. 

Bamako, Mali, 11 November 2023 – In a historic move, Sahelian Countries have adopted a landmark declaration at the inaugural Sahel Climate, Peace and Security Forum in Bamako, Mali, committing to bolstering climate security in the region.

The following text is an event summary of a scenario exercise on climate security in the Balkan for a class of the Halifax Peace with Women Fellowship. It was written by Lily Boland and published by the Council on Strategic Risks on 13 November 2023.

On 31 October, the United States Department of Defence launched a new web portal regarding climate resilience. The online space, which is placed under the wing of the general DOD website, aims to serve as a central hub of climate change information to reduce complexity and inform DOD decision-making.

In recent years, Germany has increasingly directed its foreign policy focus toward the effects and risks of climate change. The 2021 elections marked a change, as the political party Alliance 90/The Greens secured five ministerial positions in the Scholz Cabinet. On their behalf, Annalena Baerbock assumed office as Minister of Foreign Affairs in December 2021. The new minister has been clear in acknowledging the interconnectedness of climate change with emerging security threats.

The following text is a press release by the COP28 presidency, published on 31 October 2023. Cross-posts do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of PSI but rather serve to inform and stimulate debate and conversation on the multifaceted topic of climate change and its security impacts. 

''When the Indus breathes, as rivers do, the lives and livelihoods on the floodplains are quietly absorbed by the water''.