The world is facing an unprecedented environmental crisis. This is not occurring in isolation: it increasingly interacts with rising insecurity and conflict worldwide. Environmental degradation and biodiversity loss are not only consequences of conflict but are also important drivers of instability, contributing to food, water, and livelihood insecurity, which in turn can fuel political instability and violence.

The current decade, marked by increasing geopolitical tensions and armed conflicts, underlines the urgent need for preventative action and resilience-building, with nature at the core of peace and security strategies. Natural resources underpin energy transitions, food and water systems, and thus geopolitical influence. Ignoring ecosystems risks unintended hard-security consequences.

This policy brief outlines key geopolitical changes, describes important developments in the policy landscape at the national and multilateral level, highlights the importance of programming initiatives and analyses the availability of climate finance.

Summary of recommendations:

• Mainstream nature into security policy
• Strengthen all forms of cooperation
• Scale up financing for integrated solutions
• Empower Indigenous Peoples, local communities and environmental defenders
• Foster knowledge exchange and capacity building

Download the Policy Brief