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Climate change and human security: Early warning systems for resilience in the Sahel | BCSC 2022

19 October, 2022

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WATCH: The Sahel region is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts on human security, particularly food security and conflict potential. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, together with local, regional and international experts, explore which information and forecasts are needed for comprehensive and operational early warning systems of weather, food security and conflict potential in the Sahel. The panel discussion addressed how early warning systems and climate information can support policy-makers in identifying hotspots of vulnerability - both with regard to climate change and human security. They present different forecasting approaches for weather, food availability and food insecurity, which have been piloted in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. In combination with case study evidence on conflict drivers, they derive recommendations for identifying and addressing climate-related security risks in the Sahel.

Keynote

Rahel Laudien, PostDoc, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)

Speakers

Chris Funk, Director of the Climate Hazards Center (CHC) at UC Santa Barbara, Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET)
Christoph Gornott, Leader of the working group Adaptation in Agricultural Systems, PIK and Professor, University of Kassel
Andrew Harper, Special Advisor to the High Commissioner for Refugees on Climate Action, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Barbora Sedova, Leader of the FutureLab Security, Ethnic Conflicts and Migration, PIK
Ollo Sib, Senior Researcher, Assessment and Monitoring Advisor, World Food Programme, West and Central Africa Regional Bureau

Moderator

Sophie von Loeben, Research Analyst, PIK

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