Briefer published by the Council on Strategic Risks, 13 August, 2026

Climate security risks in North Africa & the Sahel

  • Violent conflict
  • climate change
  • sahel
The Sahel region has been identified as one of the regions where climate change is most likely to trigger violent conflict and undermine security. A new report by the Climate Security Expert Network explores the four links between climate change and violent conflict in North Africa & Sahel.

Information tools to improve human security: Rohingya refugee camp planning

  • climate fragility risk
  • climate change
  • Data
A growing number of organizations provide local policymakers with early warning information tools. The effectiveness depends on numerous factors. Read more about a successful case from Bangladesh that implements satellite information in refugee camp planning.
The impact of climate change on global security is acquiring more attention by the United Nation Security Council (UNSC). On 22 April, France is organising an Arria formula meeting on Climate and Security. Expected briefers are Robert Mally, Dan Smith and Rosemary Di Carlo. We will be live-tweeting. Stay tuned and follow us on twitter @PlanSec

Climate leads to unhealthy situation that puts people at risk

  • Health
  • Human security
  • water
Climate changes threaten human security of communities due to its impact on global-disease patterns. In turn, this has economic and political consequences. Improving the resilience of water resources to extreme weather events can mitigate these trends.

Conflict prevention in the era of climate change

  • climate security
  • conflict risk
  • UN
  • climate change adaptation
A new report by the United Nations University aims at supporting the UN, its partners and member states in developing climate-sensitive conflict prevention approaches. The report recommends to focus, for example, on indirect impacts, governance, inequality and maladaptation issues. The publication presents two case studies from Bangladesh and Nigeria.

Water crisis in southern Iraq drives displacement and insecurity

  • Watersecurity
  • protection of the environment
  • Climate Risk
  • middle east
A study by Social Inquiry, in partnership with the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre and the Norwegian Refugee Council, analyses how environmental degradation and governance challenges contribute to displacing farmers in Iraq. The analysis demonstrates that water scarcity in three southern Iraqi provinces is a major trigger of displacement and instability.