Despite the clear intersection between the existential threats of climate change and conflict, climate negotiations remain largely blind to them.
As the host of the 29th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP 29, Azerbaijan has a rare and critical opportunity to bridge the gap between climate action and peacebuilding. By making peace a central negotiation item of COP 29, establishing a dedicated U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change peace constituency, and leading by example, Azerbaijan can show the path toward a more resilient and peaceful future.
The stark reality of how climate change fuels conflict has become undeniable. In regions already plagued by instability, the worsening climate crisis acts as a catalyst, intensifying conflict drivers and displacement. All 14 countries in the world most vulnerable to climate change are also experiencing conflict.
About the authors
Nisreen Elsaim
Nisreen Elsaim is an environmental and climate expert with a bachelor’s degree in physics and a master’s in renewable energy from the University of Khartoum. She is the former chair of the U.N. secretary general’s Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change and a fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy, contributing to global climate policy and youth empowerment.
Tim Epple
Tim Epple is the managing director of the Peace and Conflict Resolution Evidence Platform led by Edinburgh Law School. Tim works at the intersection of research and practice, providing evidence to parties in live peace processes to support mediation. His research focuses on the relationship between climate change and peacemaking.
