Climate, Peace and Security Research Paper: Insights on Climate, Peace and Security

Climate change is having alarming effects on societies and ecosystems. There is also growing evidence of its impacts on peace and conflict, which is reflected in discussions in the United Nations Security Council. The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and SIPRI have analysed the links between climate, peace and security in countries and regions on the agenda of the UN Security Council in a series of Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheets. This paper synthesizes four key findings from the fact sheet series: (a) the centrality of livelihood to climate-related security risks; (b) the way in which climate change in one location can lead to insecurity risks in another; (c) how climate change interacts with new and existing conflict risks; and (d) conflict as a societal response to climate change. The paper concludes with recommendations for how the UN Security Council shapes policies for addressing the complex challenges arising from climate change.