Does Climate Change Create Conflicts? Exploring Case Studies, Data Evidence, and Local Solutions to the Climate-Conflict-Governance Nexus in the Sahel and West Africa

Date & Time
Jun 18, 2026 | 11.00 - 12.30

Participants
Frederic Deycard, The Carter Center (United States)
Boukary Sangare, The Carter Center (Mali)
Dan Sanaren, Science Po Paris (Slovenia)
Madeline Warman, The Carter Center (United States)

The Sahel is one of the world's most exposed regions to climate change. It is also an area of great political uncertainty and protracted armed conflicts. The overlapping of these challenges exacerbates the vulnerabilities of civilians and of marginalized groups. In which ways are these threats interconnected? Is there data-based evidence of a correlation between the impact of climate change and conflict in the Sahel? How can we promote sustainable peacebuilding and foster comprehensive resilience through data and context-specific initiatives? The Carter Center invites participants to explore these questions and local solutions to peacebuilding in the face of the climate-conflict-governance nexus through the experience of its Mitigating Conflict and Building Climate Resilience initiative in Mali, Benin, and Côte d'Ivoire. This participatory workshop is intended as a platform for sharing analysis and responses to the root causes of violence and the impact of climate change in the Sahel and West Africa.