‘An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure’: US Conflict Prevention Policy in a World of Climate Change

Mar 17, 2022 | Cynthia Brady
View Original

The crisis in Ukraine is rightly at the centre of U.S. foreign policy attention but, even in the midst of that justified focus, the latest IPCC report unflinchingly reminds us of another emergency: we are running out of time to avoid the most devastating effects of climate change, including the social, economic, environmental and security risks that can actually drive war.

As climate change increases the risks faced by citizens, the pressure on governments to guarantee core functions and deliver basic services also increases. Failure to meet people’s expectations exposes weak governance systems, negatively influencing people’s perceptions of governments’ legitimacy and effectiveness. Armed opposition groups can also capitalise on this breakdown in trust.

The U.S. needs to remain committed to a conflict prevention agenda which recognises the ever-increasing influence of climate change. The Biden administration has two policy tools available that offer some hope: the 2019 U.S. Global Fragility Act (GFA) and the accompanying 2020 U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability.