Connecting Water, Peace and Security through Ecosystems

This event will examine the linkages between peace and development through good governance of natural resources. Case studies from Africa and Asia will illustrate how ecosystem changes affect political stability. The session will also discuss what types of nature-based solutions are needed to ensure peace.

The relationship between water insecurity and peace has been increasingly appreciated and is attracting increasing political attention. This is reflected in the focus of the recent Planetary Security Conference, The Hague, December 2017, reports published by OECD (State of Fragility), Wetlands International (Water Shocks), and the work of the Global High Level Panel on Water and Peace. However, the role of ecosystems in translating the signal from climatic and hydrological variability into local contexts is still under-appreciated. Societal water access and use is very dependent on the status and management of ecosystems.