Climate change adaptation in conflict-affected countries: A systematic assessment of evidence

Abstract

People affected by conflict are particularly vulnerable to climate shocks and climate change, yet little is known about climate change adaptation in fragile contexts. While climate events are one of the many contributing drivers of conflict, feedback from conflict increases vulnerability, thereby creating conditions for a vicious cycle of conflict. In this study, we carry out a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature, taking from the Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative (GAMI) dataset to documenting climate change adaptation occurring in 15 conflict-affected countries and compare the findings with records of climate adaptation finance flows and climate-related disasters in each country. Academic literature is sparse for most conflict-affected countries, and available studies tend to have a narrow focus, particularly on agriculture-related adaptation in rural contexts and adaptation by low-income actors. In contrast, multilateral and bilateral funding for climate change adaptation addresses a greater diversity of adaptation needs, including water systems, humanitarian programming, and urban areas. Even among the conflict-affected countries selected, we find disparity, with several countries being the focus of substantial research and funding, and others seeing little to none. Results indicate that people in conflict-affected contexts are adapting to climate change, but there is a pressing need for diverse scholarship across various sectors that documents a broader range of adaptation types and their results.

Determinants of perception of climate change and adaptation strategies of coffee-based agroforestry farmers in western Ethiopia

“…The impacts of climate change and the variables influencing the selection of adaptation in African agricultural systems have been analyzed using various methods (Marie et al, 2020;Mwinkom et al, 2021). Owing to the diversity of the countries studied, it is extremely difficult for collective research to offer insights into identifying country-specific impacts and adaptation possibilities (Eriksen et al, 2021;Sitati et al, 2021). As a result, these studies did not address socioeconomic and environmental issues or agro-ecological aspects within each explicit area.…”

The role of indigenous knowledge and local knowledge in water sector adaptation to climate change in Africa: a structured assessment

“…The GAMI dataset has been used to provide global, regional, and sectoral reviews of adaptation feasibility (Williams et al 2021), policy tools to support climate adaptation (Ulibarri et al 2021), responses to climaterelated water scarcity (Leal Filho et al 2022), equity in adaptation (Araos et al 2021), health effects of adaptation (Scheelbeek et al 2021), constraints and limits to adaptation (Thomas et al 2021), adaptation to extreme heat (Turek-Hankins et al 2021), adaptation in conflict affected areas (Sitati et al 2021), and a systematic global stocktake of evidence of human adaptation to climate change (Berrang-Ford et al 2021b). Our assessment here focuses on water sector responses within the five hundred and seventy (570) articles on the region of Africa.…”

Uncovering the Research Gaps to Alleviate the Negative Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security: A Review

“…• Across all of the major countries worldwide, agriculture has been identified as the first priority for adaptation against climate change where it has been the focus of the major proportion of adaptation programs during recent years. This is possibly very unsurprising presented the climate-sensitivity of food production from crops and livestock, different governments' wish to fulfill the food security demands of their populations, and the proceeding importance of agriculture as a major source of employment in various developing states (Sitati et al, 2021). • The capacity development of governments at sub-levels in identification, prioritization, mainstreaming and implementing adaptation programs seems to be very restricted.…”