Conflict-sensitive climate change adaptation in Africa

Policy & Practice Brief 14

In preparation for COP17 (17 th Conference of the Parties) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD) in Durban,held a two-day expert seminar to identify issues and recommendations for ensuring that adaptation to climate change is conflict- sensitive. Practitioners and scientists presented new research on the linkages between climate change and conflict in Africa, and analysed various tools, policies and approaches to ensure that conflicts arising from climate change are addressed and climate change adaptation measures are conflict-sensitive. Download PDF

Key considerations and outcomes from the discussion and papers presented at the seminar are outlined in this brief.The first section reports on the scientific evidence for the linkages between climate change and conflict. The second section discusses what it means to have conflict-sensitive climate change adaptation – hereafter referred as ‘conflict- sensitive adaptation’ – drawing on the research and discussion outcomes from the seminar. The third section outlines key considerations for conflict- sensitive adaptation. The final section includes recommendations for continental, regional and national bodies on conflict-sensitive adaptation.

The Policy and Practice Brief series forms part of ACCORD’s research and interventions on peacemaking, peacekeeping and peacebuilding.