Climate Change Impact on Conflict

Berghof Foundation to Address Impact of Climate Change on Conflict

The impact of climate change on forced migration, on conflict, and the often concomitant human rights violations has been well-established in the last decades.

From the droughts in Iraq to Sudan’s desertification, extreme weather events play a role on fueling conflict, said Andrew Gilmour, former UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights and currently CEO at the Berghof Foundation. The German think-tank is dedicated to peace building research, peace education and conflict mediation and transformation.

Mr. Gilmour believes now is the time to focus on environmental issues, bringing together the human rights community and the climate change community, as well as continuing the high-level mediation work that is the hallmark of the organization that has been operating in the thorniest conflict situations and countries for last 50 years.

The Foundation will also work at the grassroots level, supporting worldwide peaceful women-led protests, to share strategies and tactics that can lea…