Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 05/2012

Development Cooperation, Climate Change and Conflict

Signe Marie Cold-Ravnkilde, Mikkel Funder

April 2012

Danish Institute for International Studies

Abstract

Climate change is rarely the sole cause of conflict, but it can intensify and multiply existing conflicts over natural resources. Development cooperation can help prevent this in three ways: 1. Addressing the root causes of the conflicts that climate change may contribute to 2. Supporting institutional mechanisms for conflict management and resolution 3. “Conflict proofing” development programmes and national policies, which may otherwise themselves increase the risk of conflict These are among the key points in this DIIS Policy Brief.