Climate change plays an exacerbating role in the armed conflict in Iraq. In this video, Iraqi experts explain how climate change impacts such as increased droughts and water scarcity spur tensions within the country.

A rapidly growing population increases water demand even more, and dams on the main rivers Euphrates and Tigris built by neighboring countries may further reduce water availability in the future. These developments pose serious challenges for the Iraqi government and highlight the need to focus on the nexus between climate change and conflict.

Increasingly inconsistent climate patterns are pushing vulnerable populations to migrate both within and across borders. Spillover effects, such as terrorist recruitment and rapid ubanization, put a strain on global security. How can the international community best use its resources to help stabilize livelihood systems and halt this upwards trend? Louise van Schaik, Senior Research Fellow at The Clingendael Institute, gives insights into this underexplored aspect of climate security.

The amount of water in Lake Chad (Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon) has decreased significantly. The drought that started in 1973 has affected millions of people. Mohammed Bila, expert from the Lake Chad Basin Commission, argues that climate change drives conflicts in the region, because it makes people vulnerable, forcing them to migrate. He highlights what needs to happen at the state and local level in order to create security and manage resources equitably.