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Extreme weather

Climate Change and Natural Resource Dynamics Contribute to Conflict

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Extreme weather events, such as droughts, floods, and heatwaves, linked to increased violence, particularly through economic disruptions, reduced agricultural productivity, and displacement, indicate the critical role of climate change in conflict dynamics. The green transition presents opportunities for natural resource exploitation, leading to resource price and availability shocks that can trigger conflict. The interaction between climate- and resource-driven conflict risks may amplify instability, emphasizing the need for integrated research that informs policies mitigating environmental change and resource pressures.

Key Takeaways:

  • Climate change and natural resource dynamics contribute to conflict, with extreme weather events leading to increased violence through economic disruptions, reduced agricultural productivity, and displacement.
  • The green transition presents opportunities for natural resource exploitation, leading to resource price and availability shocks that can trigger conflict.
  • The interaction between climate- and resource-driven conflict risks may amplify instability, requiring integrated research to inform policies mitigating environmental change and resource pressures.
  • The research highlights the need for open research questions related to prediction, the effects of long-run environmental changes, and the design of policy responses.
  • Insurance schemes, climate adaptation strategies, infrastructure investment, and regulatory frameworks for resource governance are critical components of effective policy responses.
  • The study emphasizes the importance of integrating climate and conflict dynamics to inform policies that mitigate the risks associated with environmental change and resource pressures.
  • National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) conducts research on climate change, natural resources, and conflict, collaborating with the Paris School of Economics.
  • Oliver Vanden Eynde, a researcher at CNRS, is working on integrating climate and conflict dynamics.

Statistics:

  • 2025: The year in which researchers published their report on climate change and natural resource dynamics.
  • 2025: The year in which the ReCIPE programme of the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office provided financial support for the research.
  • EUR 1 total grant from the ReCIPE programme for the research.
  • The exact number of conflicts linked to climate change and natural resource dynamics is not specified.
  • The research study examines 10 empirical cases of climate-related violence and its effects on conflict dynamics.
  • Oxford University Press is the publisher of the Economic Policy journal, which produced the research.

Sources:

  • NewsRx LLC (2025), Researchers at National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) Report New Data on Climate Change (Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Conflict), Global Warming Focus.
  • Oliver Vanden Eynde, National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) (2025), Climate Change, Natural Resources, and Conflict, Economic Policy.
  • Oxford Univ Press, (2025), Great Clarendon St, Oxford OX2 6DP, England.
  • www.wiley.com/; onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1468-0327.

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