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Climate Change and Terrorism – A New Alliance?

  • Thomas Wuchte (Center for Multilateral Collaboration and Cooperation Leadership)
  • Rehema Zaid Obuyi (IICEP Kenya)
Climate Change and Terrorism – A New Alliance? The Case for Reviving Multilateralism and Re-Imagining Hard Power

With the world at an inflection point in the global race to find solutions to the mounting climate change crisis, security experts Thomas Wuchte and Rehema Zaid Obuyi apply an integrated approach that points to an apparent neglect of a climate change focus in conjunction with broader dynamics, including geopolitical conflict, gender-based violence, and disaffected youth vulnerable to violent extremism. In Policy Paper N°13, the authors argue that the interplay between terrorism, organised crime, and climate change—and specifically how it appears to be fuelling violent extremist engagement—warrants our full attention.

While studies have tended to focus on the role of ‘climate insecurity’ as a risk multiplier, few view it as a direct driver of violent extremism. A growing evidence base notwithstanding, the link between climate change and violent extremism continues to be viewed with hesitation. Contemporary counterterrorism and preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE) approaches are mainly confined to direct causal factors geared towards prevention and reaction. 

However, shifting peace and security developments call for a closer examination of innate causal factors, such as the impact of climate change on violent extremist recruitment and resurgence. Existing policies are insufficient in addressing the impact of climate change. More recent research in pursuit of mitigating strategies is pointing to the nexus between climate-related disasters and heightened vulnerability to violent extremism. A chief concern and direct consequence are the rising susceptibility of adolescents and young adults to violent extremist ideologies.

 Against this background, the authors argue that the interplay between terrorism, organised crime, and climate change—and specifically how it appears to be fuelling violent extremist engagement—warrants our full attention.

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This description was excerpted from wwb.org

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