15 December 2017

Climate Change, Inequality and Conflict

This policy brief argues structural inequalities and conflict-sensitivity need to be mainstreamed into climate adaptation measures based on the case-study of Mali. While there are many adaptation projects further assessment is needed to promote inclusion and prevent violence. 

In developing effective climate change adaptation measures, two important, yet often overlooked, factors need to be incorporated into the framework: structural inequality and conflict-sensitive approach. Especially in the case of Mali, adaptation and development policies have often not been inclusive. Additionally, there is a growing need to assess the potential negative implications of climate change adaptation measures on conflict onset. Despite several climate adaptation projects being implemented on the local level, the interaction between these and the ongoing clashes among different producer groups needs further assessment as violent clashes continue to erupt.

In order to reduce this vulnerability, minimize violent clashes among different land users, and increase the adaptive capacity of different groups, the Malian government should consider promoting ethnic heterogeneity, endorsing a pastoral lifestyle, reinforcing a positive synergy between different groups, creating a unified framework for resource management, and promoting good governance  

Front picture: ©FAO/UNISFA/Aldrin Velasco