Climate Change and Security in Africa

The document argues that climate change may exacerbate international security risks in Africa by affecting water availability, food security, and migration, particularly due to the continent's reliance on climate-dependent sectors and fragile governance. It outlines specific threats, such as water scarcity and state fragility, and proposes strategies including improved climate projections and the integration of climate change into governance.

• Climate change is identified as a potential driver of international security risks by altering water availability, food security, disease prevalence, and coastal boundaries, which may lead to increased forced migration and new conflicts.
• Africa is considered the continent most vulnerable to climate-induced conflict because of its history of political, ethnic, and resource conflict and its heavy reliance on climate-dependent sectors like rain-fed agriculture.
• Despite improvements in governance, economic prospects, and the role of the African Union in reducing conflict, Africa's high dependency on natural resources and fragile governance capacities may hinder its ability to adapt to future climate effects.

APA

Brown,, A. C. (2009). Climate Change and Security in Africa. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/climate-change-and-security-africa

Chicago

Brown,, Alec Crawford,Oli. Climate Change and Security in Africa. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2009. https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/climate-change-and-security-africa.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Brown, |first1=Alec Crawford,Oli |title=Climate Change and Security in Africa |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=7 April 2009 |url=https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/climate-change-and-security-africa |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{brown2009climate, author = {Brown,, Alec Crawford,Oli}, title = {{Climate Change and Security in Africa}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://www.iisd.org/publications/report/climate-change-and-security-africa}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }