Under Pressure: How Climate Risks Shape Peace and Security 

We are witnessing more global conflicts than at any time since 1946. The intersection of state fragility, climate change, and security has become a central concern for development and humanitarian actors in the face of this.  

This event, brought to you by K4DD, explores how climate impacts interact with political, social, and economic vulnerabilities to heighten instability in fragile contexts. While climate change does not universally cause conflict, it can exacerbate underlying pressures—especially where institutions are weak, public services are limited, and governance systems struggle to meet citizens’ needs.  

Drawing on evidence from the K4DD programme, this event unpacked how the climate crisis – including extreme weather events, resource scarcity, and climate-related fiscal pressures – interact with existing fragilities. It explored findings from K4DD’s recent reports on ‘Climate, Peace and Security: Cascading Risks and Conflict Prevention Tools’ and ‘Approaches to State Fragility and Climate Security’, which highlight the complex, indirect, and politically contested pathways linking climate change and conflict. 

This event aims to support more evidence-based, context relevant strategies for addressing climate related security risks. 

Speakers: 

• Jeremy Lind, Research Fellow at Institute of Development Studies (Chair) 
• Iffat Idris, Research Fellow at University of Birmingham 
• Tobias Ide, Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies at PRIF – Peace Research Institute Frankfurt 
• Jan Selby, Professor of International Politics and Climate Change at University of Leeds 
• Will Reynolds, Conflict and Climate Policy Lead, Fragility Hub at Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office