Breaking Silos: Climate Change, Security, and Humanitarian Action — Roundtable Summary
Publisher: Center for Climate & Security and International Committee of the Red Cross
Author(s): Elsa Barron, Brigitte Hugh, and Alejandra Portillo-Taylor
Date: 2023
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Causes, Humanitarian Assistance, Livelihoods
The convergence of climate change, security, and humanitarian action, including in places affected by conflict, demands nuanced consideration and dialogue among decision makers at all levels. In response to this need for dialogue, the Center for Climate and Security (CCS) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) brought together representatives from a variety of U.S. government agencies as well as academic institutions, think tanks, and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) approaching these issues from different but complementary vantage points. The discussion explored how relevant actors can work together to anticipate, mitigate, and respond to the humanitarian consequences brought on by the intersection of climate risks and conflict—both now and in the future.
The purpose of this briefer is to highlight key elements of that discussion—namely, challenges and opportunities for current procedures addressing conflict and climate consequences, and in developing knowledge.