In some of the current conflict constellations complex crises are interconnected with environmental and climate change, possibly crossing thresholds and tipping points, and triggering cascading risks from local to global... [ view full abstract ]
In some of the current conflict constellations complex crises are interconnected with environmental and climate change, possibly crossing thresholds and tipping points, and triggering cascading risks from local to global scales. Humans can cope with crises of varying speed, intensity and complexity and develop alternative pathways. Concepts of anticipative and adaptive governance influence critical decision points and adjust actions to move from vicious cycles of growth, power and violence to virtuous cycles of sustainability, development and peace. Sustainable development balances economic, social and ecological issues for present and future generations and integrates the human-social sphere with the natural-environmental sphere. Linkages combine the preservation and protection of natural resources and human existence against destruction and violence with the unfolding of abilities to achieve a transformation into a more viable world in the Anthropocene. These linkages are increasingly relevant, as indicated by the inclusion of peace, justice and strong institutions as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Related are the concepts of environmental security, aiming to diminish risks posed by environmental change, and resilience as the ability to recover after disturbance and stress. Strengthening the link between both concepts is a contribution to sustainable peacebuilding. A joint application could improve understanding of the risks to which people are exposed due to environmental factors (environmental security), and the extent to which people are able to adapt to and recover from environmental risks (resilience). Moving from theory to action, we introduce and apply a joint framework, identifying the states, changes, risks and disturbances, drivers and mechanisms, impacts, and measures and responses from a combined environmental security and resilience perspective. This offers a better understanding of conflict dynamics and identifies entry points for sustainable peacebuilding projects in developing countries. This framework is applied for a comparative assessment of selected regional case studies in climate hot spots, highlighting common and different features across regions.
Keywords: conflict, crisis, environmental security, resilience, sustainable peace
9a. Peace and security
