ISS, GCS and Swedish Embassy Pretoria Launch BY INVITATION ONLY - Climate Change and the Risk of Violent Conflicts in Southern Africa

Date: 2011-09-22

Venue: , ISS Conference Room , Block C , Brooklyn Court , 361 Veale Street , New Muckleneuk , Pretoria

RSVP:
Sarah Malefo
Tel: 012 346 9500
Fax: 012 460 0997

Climate change can be linked to conflict in various ways. These include: increased competition over reduced/uncertain water supply; increased competition over agricultural land in the face of reduced crop yields, desertification and rising food prices; large-scale migration as a result of sea level and weather changes; as well as diminished capacity of governments to provide services to their people in the face of increasing poverty. 

While climate change may not be the sole cause of conflict or migration, it is considered a threat multiplier. Social, economic and political factors will also affect the vulnerability or resilience of communities. In Africa, as the ability to cope with climate change decreases, the likelihood of conflict increases as a result of such factors as: poverty, low levels of education/ literacy, lack of skills, weak institutions, limited infrastructure, lack of technology and information, limited access to health care, poor access to resources, over-exploitation of resources, etc. Climate change is likely to exacerbate many of these problems.

This seminar will launch a Sweden funded report “Climate Change and the Risk of Violent Conflict in Southern Africa”. This report identifies areas in the Zambezi River Basin that are prone to the risk of violent conflict induced by climatic changes/variability.

CHAIRPERSON:

• Dr. Paul-Simon Handy, Research Director, ISS 

KEY SPEAKERS:

• Amb Peter Tejler – Embassy of Sweden
• Dr Admore Kambudzi – Secretary to Africa Union’s Peace and Security Council
• Prof Ashok Swain – Uppsala University