Climate change, environmental degradation, and overexploitation intensify the scarcity of natural resources such as fertile land or water, minerals, and oil in the Global South. In already fragile contexts, this often leads to violent conflict. Over the past century, as much as 20 percent of all armed conflicts have been shaped by climate change, and this concerning trend is anticipated to persist in the years ahead.
Nevertheless, addressing the challenges posed by climate change can act as a catalyst for unity in fractured communities. Our objective is to reshape conflicts linked to natural resources and utilize climate and environment-related tensions to unite people irrespective of their ethnic, political, religious, socio-economic, and other differences.
Peaceful pastoralism in the Sudano-Sahel
Climate change is making life hard for livestock herders in drylands. From Nigeria to Mali, pastoral populations have had to adapt their routes to a changing climate. Where pastoralists have relied on grassy, arid savannahs for herding their animals in the past, these lands are under pressure due to long periods of droughts. Putting strain on customary approaches, livestock keepers are forced to constantly look for alternative places to find water and animal food, resulting in land disputes.
Search for Common Ground’s programming directly targets farming and herding communities in the Sudano-Sahel, while also seeking to improve the broader security situation. In Mali, Search provides leadership and social communication training to authorities, community leaders, local actors and security forces. These initiatives build trust between communities, and this is very valuable for solving incidents involving pastoralist populations.
Learn more: Capacity statement on Climate, Environment and Conflict
