Roughly 15 million people are displaced every year by climate and weather related disasters. This year much of that displacement will take place against the backdrop of a pandemic. This talk explores how the coronavirus pandemic collides with current patterns of climate-linked migration and displacement, and what this new situation means for the people most at risk. The session will explore locations that are particularly at risk, and examine the contexts in which these global crises coverage. 

Presenter - Alex Randall

Climate change is predicted to increase conflict in the coming decades. In many places, this is already the case. In Marsabit, northern Kenya, prolonged drought is causing resource scarcity and fueling violent conflict among the tribes.

In times of crisis, social structures and institutions are put to the test and normal practices called into question. Disruptive events can lead to the emergence of new cultural expressions, daily routines, power relations and resource distribution. Could the COVID-19 pandemic be the catalyst for a societal transformation toward sustainability, as envisioned by the UN and the European Union? Or will efforts to restore business as usual drive a new surge of carbon emissions, fear and international distrust?