When Climate Shocks Threaten Food, Peace and Livelihoods

Aug 15, 2026 | Ludwig Federigan
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Climate change increasingly operates as a threat multiplier. Droughts, floods, heat waves and sea-level rise do more than damage infrastructure and crops: they amplify preexisting socioeconomic stresses like poverty and weak governance, sparking unrest, displacement and competition over scarce resources. Globally, the contours of a new security landscape lead to supply chain disruptions, food-price volatility that fuels protests and migration flows that strain urban services and social cohesion. In fragile, poorly governed settings, these pressures can escalate into localized violence or wider instability.