Livelihood Security: Climate Change, Migration and Conflict in the Sahel
Publisher: UNEP
Date: 2011
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Causes, Livelihoods, Renewable Resources
The report presents the findings of a unique mapping process analyzing climate trends over a 24 to 36-year period in 17 countries, from the Atlantic coast to Chad. The nine countries represented by CILSS – Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Chad, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Niger and Senegal – determined the core geographical scope of the study. However, given the transboundary nature of climate change, as well as migratory patterns and economic trade in these countries, eight neighbouring members of the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) – Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo – are also included in the analysis.
This study examines the relationship between climate change, migration, and conflict, highlighting areas of particular interest or where further research is needed. In no way does it argue that climate change acts as a single and isolated factor in migration or conflict, nor does it attempt to show a direct causal link between these three issues. Climate change, migration and conflict, rather, are interlinked through complex influencing factors that include economic, social and political issues. On the strength of the findings of the mapping process and information gathered from existing literature, case studies and field observation, as well as an overview of existing adaptation plans in the countries of concern, this report reaches five main conclusions. As a result, seven principal recommendations are presented to national, regional and international policy and decision-makers, as well as adaptation practitioners in the region. The UN system can also address many of the issues highlighted in the recommendations through its specialized agencies and programmes.