Climate change is a pervasive threat to global peace and security, acting as a “threat multiplier” that amplifies political instability, deepens societal tensions and increases the risk of mass atrocity crimes. It undermines security, destabilizes political systems, weakens economies and contributes to large-scale displacement – all of which also heighten the risk of conflict. The impacts of climate change are particularly acute in fragile states, where weak governance structures and vulnerable communities are least equipped to respond. Extreme weather events – such as hurricanes, floods, fires and droughts – are becoming more frequent and severe, exacerbating humanitarian crises, displacing populations and worsening food insecurity.

Resource scarcity, environmental degradation and competition over land, water and valuable minerals further heighten tensions, often fueling recurrent conflicts and abuses against civilians. These dynamics can also directly harm the environment, creating conditions in which atrocities are more likely to occur.

As the international community confronts the climate emergency, it must also address the risks of atrocity crimes linked to climate disruptions. A just climate transition that protects human rights, livelihoods and environmental defenders – especially in the Global South – is essential to preventing inequality, social unrest and future violence.

Building on an event hosted by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect and the European Union on 24 January 2024, the Global Centre published a policy brief that provides an overview of the different ways climate vulnerability and climate change can compound atrocity risks. This brief also describes and assesses several existing national and multilateral initiatives that can be adapted and used to mitigate and address the growing threat of climate-related atrocity risks and crimes.

In addition to the policy brief, the Global Centre has published several issues of our weekly Atrocity Alert on various topics related to climate change. Examples include:

• • • The climate crisis and the responsibility to protect in the context of COP26
    • Climate change as a threat multiplier for conflict and mass atrocities
    • From global warming to genocide warning: Climate change and mass atrocities
    • The role of conflict minerals in exacerbating violence and atrocities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including those used for so-called green technology
    • Climate change as a threat multiplier in the Horn of Africa
    • Global displacement and mass atrocities