Climate Change and Conflict
Publisher: USAID
Date: 2015
Topics: Climate Change, Programming
There is growing recognition of the interrelationship between climate change and conflict. Research and field experience are demonstrating that these dynamics are often particularly acute in countries that are fragile orconflict-affected – regions that represent the majority of the countries in which USAID works. It is important, therefore, that USAID and its partners be aware of how climate change may affect security and stability, and how dynamics of conflict, fragility, and peace may either support or hinder efforts to address climate. Examining the climate change–conflict nexus can help avoid unintended outcomes that undermine USAID objectives and illuminate opportunities to strengthen efforts to promote both peace and climate resilience. This paper provides a set of guidelines for USAID and its partners to employ in planning, designing, implementing, and learning from programs where climate change and conflict have the potential to interact. It is a complement to USAID’s Climate-Resilient Development Framework (CRD Framework), which outlines an approach for helping USAID and its partners achieve development objectives in the face of climate variability and change. It presents a framework for analysis, illustrates how this framework can be applied, and discusses ways to understand conflict dynamics and be attuned to opportunities for peacebuilding through climate-related activities.