Bridging Research and Policy on Climate Change and Conflict

Globally, we have seen an increase in climate impacts and security risks. At the same time, we have seen substantial progress in research on how climatic changes may alter or enhance the propensity for new violence or interact with existing conflicts. 

In March 2018, the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and the Wilson Center co-hosted a conversation between policymakers and academic researchers to investigate how to improve the translation of scholarship on climate change and conflict to address pressing policy challenges in diplomacy, development and security. Following presentations led by academic experts, participants engaged in discussion on the synthesis of the evidence on climate and conflict risks and long-term scenarios, the pathways from food production and livelihood to instability, and the links between land rights, conflict and climate policy. Four main recommendations are forwarded from this conversation for enhancing policy and research interactions. 

Banner Photo Credit: Climate change and drought land, Global warming concept, drought cracked river banks landscape, dry reservoir, courtesy of Siyapath, Shutterstock.com.