Conflict-Sensitive Nature-Based Solutions

The document argues that nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation can unintentionally worsen existing conflicts if the broader social, economic, and environmental contexts are ignored. It advocates for 'conflict-sensitive NbS', which are specifically designed to minimize conflict risks and enhance peacebuilding opportunities by considering the causes, actors, and dynamics of conflict to ensure that people and ecosystems thrive together.

• Nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation that fail to account for the broader social, economic, and environmental context risk creating new tensions or intensifying existing grievances and conflicts.
• Conflict-sensitive NbS for adaptation are characterized by a design and implementation process that considers conflict dynamics, actors, and causes to increase the climate resilience of communities and ecosystems while promoting peacebuilding.

APA

Crawford,, A. (2025). Conflict-Sensitive Nature-Based Solutions. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/guide/conflict-sensitive-nature-based-solutions

Chicago

Crawford,, Alec. Conflict-Sensitive Nature-Based Solutions. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2025. https://www.iisd.org/publications/guide/conflict-sensitive-nature-based-solutions.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Crawford, |first1=Alec |title=Conflict-Sensitive Nature-Based Solutions |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=8 October 2025 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/guide/conflict-sensitive-nature-based-solutions |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{crawford2025conflictsensitive, author = {Crawford,, Alec}, title = {{Conflict-Sensitive Nature-Based Solutions}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2025}, month = oct, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/guide/conflict-sensitive-nature-based-solutions}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }