Climate resilience in fragile and conflict-affected societies: concepts and approaches

Abstract

To understand resilience to climate and environmental changes in fragile and conflict-affected societies is particularly important but equally challenging. In this paper, we first develop a conceptual framework to explore the climate-fragility-conflict and climate-resilience-peace nexus. Second, we discuss approaches to promote pathways from climatic changes to peace. We draw on the relevant literature and International Alert's experience in fragile and conflict-affected societies to stress the key role of resilience. To build resilience, climate, development, peacebuilding, and government actors would have to overcome bureaucratic and institutional barriers and cooperate across thematic and regional silos.

Comprendre la résilience face aux changements climatiques et environnementaux dans les sociétés fragiles et touchées par des conflits est tout particulièrement important mais tout aussi difficile. Dans cet article, nous élaborons en premier lieu un cadre conceptuel pour explorer le lien entre climat-fragilité-conflit et climat-résilience-paix. Nous traitons en second lieu des approches pour promouvoir les chemins menant des changements climatiques à la paix. Nous nous inspirons des écrits pertinents et de l'expérience d'International Alert dans des sociétés fragiles et touchées par des conflits pour souligner le rôle clé de la résilience. Pour renforcer la résilience, les acteurs des secteurs du climat, du développement, de la construction de la paix et gouvernementaux devraient surmonter les barrières bureaucratiques et institutionnelles et coopérer pour nouer des liens entre les systèmes thématiques et régionaux cloisonnés.

La comprensión respecto a qué involucra la resiliencia ante los cambios climáticos y ambientales exhibida por sociedades frágiles y afectadas por conflictos, reviste particular importancia y encierra retos específicos. Con el fin de explorar los vínculos clima-fragilidad-conflicto y clima-resiliencia-paz, los autores desarrollan un marco conceptual, a la vez que examinan distintos enfoques encaminados a establecer vasos comunicantes entre los conceptos de cambio climático y paz. En este sentido, y para destacar el importante rol desempeñado por la resiliencia, se apoyan en estudios previos y en la experiencia adquirida por International Alert en sociedades frágiles y afectadas por conflictos. A manera de conclusión, establecen que para fortalecer la resiliencia, las autoridades gubernamentales y los actores en los ámbitos de clima, de desarrollo y de construcción de la paz, por un lado, deberán superar las barreras burocráticas e institucionales y, por otro, cooperar de manera transversal en distintos temas y regiones.

Keywords:

• Environment (built and natural) – Climate change
• Governance and public policy
• Conflict and reconstruction

Acknowledgements

We thank the anonymous reviewer for the constructive comments.

Notes on contributors

Janani Vivekananda (corresponding author) has been the Environment, Climate Change and Security Manager at International Alert since 2009. Her specific interests include the implications of climate change policies on peace, the links between climate change and community resilience, and opportunities for positive responses to climate and environmental change and disasters. Previously, she worked at Plan International UK and as a consultant on conflict analysis and aid effectiveness in Nepal. She holds an MSc in Violence, Conflict, and Development from the School of Oriental and African Studies and a BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from New College, University of Oxford.

Janpeter Schilling is a Programme Officer in Climate Change and Security at International Alert in London and an Associated Researcher in the Research Group Climate Change and Security at Hamburg University. Previously he was a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Environmental Security at Colgate University in New York and a Research Associate at Hamburg University where he received his PhD in Geography. His field of specialisation is the linkages between climate change, vulnerability, adaptation, and conflict.

Dan Smith is the Secretary General of International Alert and Chairman of the UN Peacebuilding Fund's Advisory Group. Dan's previous positions include Director of the International Peace Research Institute, Oslo (1993–2001) and Director of the Transnational Institute, Amsterdam (1991–1993). Fellowships include the Norwegian Nobel Institute (2001) and the Hellenic Foundation for Foreign and European Policy (2003). Dan Smith also holds a professorship at the University of Manchester's Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute. Honorary positions include Chairman of the Institute for War & Peace Reporting (1992–2006). He was awarded the OBE in 2002.