Lessons from Yemen, Ukraine, and Libya

The world's water is in trouble. Freshwater pollution, coupled with climate change, population growth, and increasing demand, threatens water quality and availability. The strain is clear already, as 26% of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, and a whopping 46% lack access to basic sanitation. In countries experiencing conflict, these percentages soar. In 2015, 38% of people living in conflict-affected states lacked basic drinking water.

Communities need to adapt to the havoc wrought by this weather phenomenon.

Some scientists suspect that atmospheric rivers, plumes of water vapor that transport water from the poles and dump heavy rain or snow when they hit land, caused the 'Great Flood' in 1862. These rivers in the sky have become increasingly powerful in the decades since, pummeling California and the western United States the past few winters. They will likely grow even more severe in a warming world. Western states need to prepare accordingly.

Hunting for Submarines in the Warming Ocean

What effect will climate change have on military power, capabilities, effectiveness, and force employment? Despite the growing attention to climate change in the field of international relations scholars have paid little attention to how climate change directly affects military power and military operations.

The strategy of the German Defence Ministry to prepare for climate change

Extreme temperatures, melting ice, natural catastrophes: the consequences of climate change are wide and have an impact on security and defence as well. To guarantee the operational readiness of the army even in changed climate conditions, the German Defence Ministry has published its "Defence and Climate Change" strategy.

We must invest in them now to prevent conflict

Peace makes for poor headlines, but serves as a testament to the hard work of River Basin Organizations. Around the world these organizations have helped to avoid water and other conflicts escalating. This is some of the best news on this world water day that does not feature in any newspapers, and is a reflection of the dedication of riparian countries to cooperation and dialogue.

Climate Risk Management Guide for Chiefs of Defence Staff

Climate change manifests through various hazards, from severe climate and weather events like floods, storms, droughts or wildfires, to gradual shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns, ice melting and sea level rise.

The key takeaways from the European Commission's communication on managing climate risks

Climate resilience is a matter of maintaining societal functions, but also of competitiveness for economies and companies, and thus jobs. Managing climate risks is a necessary condition for improving living standards, fighting inequality and protecting people. It is a matter of economic survival for rural and coastal areas, farmers, foresters and fishers.

The key takeaways from the first European Climate Risk Assessment Report by the European Environment Agency

On the 11th of March 2024 the European Environment Agency published its first Climate Risk Assessment Report, describing in detail the current and future impacts of the climate crisis on the European continent. Rising temperatures, floods, draughts, wildfires, destruction of ecosystems and their biodiversity, health hazards and social catastrophes.

The sixth UN Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) has adopted a consensus resolution that aims to reinvigorate UNEP’s work on the environmental dimensions of armed conflicts to make it more responsive to global environmental challenges. The resolution, which was proposed by Ukraine, and which was greatly informed by its recent experience, also urged states to abide by the legal framework, and drew attention to its most recent addition – the Principles on the protection of the environment in relation to armed conflicts (PERAC Principles).

Insights from the Horn of Africa

Climate change has become widely recognised as a security concern and a key priority area in European and broader Western initiatives for global peace and security, with a significant focus on Africa. It is commonly perceived as a ‘threat multiplier’, posing risks to stability by catalysing migration, contributing to resource conflicts and bolstering recruitment for non-state armed actors.