Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science

Influence of Climate on Human Conflict

Works Count: 39028

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Description

This cluster of papers explores the complex relationship between climate change, water resources, and conflict, particularly in arid regions. It delves into the impact of environmental degradation, drought, and transboundary water issues on human security and violent conflict. The papers also discuss international cooperation, resource scarcity, and the potential for climate-informed conflicts in the future.

Keywords

Climate Change; Conflict; Water Resources; Transboundary Water; Security; Drought; Arid Regions; International Cooperation; Environmental Impact; Resource Scarcity

The Routledge Handbook of Political Ecology

2015-06-12

Tom Perreault , Gavin Bridge , James J. McCarthy

PART I: INTRODUCTION Editors' introduction Introductory overview: The Origins of Political Ecology Michael Watts PART II: ORIGINS, TRAJECTORIES AND FUTURES OF POLITICAL ECOLOGY Activist political ecology Ben Wisner Reflections on … PART I: INTRODUCTION Editors' introduction Introductory overview: The Origins of Political Ecology Michael Watts PART II: ORIGINS, TRAJECTORIES AND FUTURES OF POLITICAL ECOLOGY Activist political ecology Ben Wisner Reflections on non-Anglophone political ecology Enrique Leff French research traditions on peasant agriculture Denis Gautier & Christian Kull Political ecology as trickster Paul Robbins The end of critique? Bruce Braun PART III: DOING POLITICAL ECOLOGY Ethics and Entanglement Juanita Sundberg Ethics in research beyond the human Rosemary-Claire Collard Relationship and Research Methods Abby Neely & Thoko Nguse Methods in Environmental Science Karl Zimmerer Activism and Direct Action Politics Nik Heynen & Levi Van Sant Political ecology as praxis Alex Loftus Political ecology and policy Brent McCusker Policy Networks and Moments of Government Tony Bebbington PART IV: CORE QUESTIONS AND CONCEPTS OF POLITICAL ECOLOGY A: Environmental Knowledge Political ecology and Actor-Network Theory Rebecca Lave Promises of Participation in Science and Political Ecology David Demeritt Indigenous/local environmental knowledge Leah Horowitz Participatory Mapping Joe Bryan Historical approaches Diana Davis B: Environmental Change Capitalist production of socio-natures Noel Castree Risk, hazards and vulnerability Jim Wescoat Climate change and environmental transformation Diana Liverman Environment and development: Reflections from Latin America Astrid Ulloa Livelihoods and social reproduction Ed Carr Political Ecologies of Disease and Health Brian King Environmental degradation and Marginalization Tor Benjaminsen Industrialization and environmental change Stefania Barca International trade, development and environment Alf Hornborg C: Environmental Governance Nature conservation Rod Neumann International Agri-food systems Derek Hall Certification regimes Tad Muttersbaugh Property and commodification Scott Prudham Neoliberalization of nature Karen Bakker Political ecology and state theory Morgan Robertson Eco-governmentality Gabriela Valdivia Energy and resources Matt Huber Biosecurity Celia Lowe Scales and polities Nathan Sayre D: Environmental Identities Gender/feminist political ecology 2 Rebecca Elmhirst Indigeneity Emily Yeh & Joe Bryan Class formation and nature Michael Ekers Nature, difference and the body Julie Guthman & Becky Mansfield E: Environmental Politics Social Movements Wendy Wolford & Sarah Keene Environmental justice Ryan Holifield Environmental conflict Philippe LeBillon Urbanization and environmental imaginaries Erik Swyngedouw Editor's conclusion

Silenced rivers: the ecology and politics of large dams

1997-06-01

Patrick McCully

* A New Order for Rivers and Society: The World Commission on Dams and Beyond * 1. The Power and the Water * 2. Rivers No More: The Environmental Effects … * A New Order for Rivers and Society: The World Commission on Dams and Beyond * 1. The Power and the Water * 2. Rivers No More: The Environmental Effects of Dams * 3. Temples of Doom: The Human Consequences of Dams * 4. When Things Fall Apart: The Technical Failures of Large Dams * 5. Empty Promises: The Elusive Benefits of Large Dams * 6. Paradise Lost: Dams and Irrigation * 7. The Wise Use of Watersheds * 8. Energy: Revolution or Catastrophe? * 9. Industry Applies, Man Conforms: The Political Economy of Damming * 10. We Will Not Move: The International Anti-Dam Movement * Appendixes

World Water Vision

2014-03-18

William J. Cosgrove , Frank Rijsberman

More than a billion people cannot get safe drinking water; half the world's population does not have adequate sanitation; within a generation over three billion will be suffering from water … More than a billion people cannot get safe drinking water; half the world's population does not have adequate sanitation; within a generation over three billion will be suffering from water stress. This text analyzes the issues in this crisis of management and shows how water can be used effectively and productively. The key to sustainable water resources is an integrated approach. The authors assert that careful planning and concerted action can make the fundamental changes needed and that the implications of not dealing with the crisis are immense. The book comes with downloadable resources containing background research and scenarios.

The World's water, 2002-2003: the biennial report on freshwater resources

2003-03-01

Peter H. Gleick

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Human Appropriation of Renewable Fresh Water

1996-02-09

Sandra Postel , Gretchen C. Daily , Paul R. Ehrlich

Humanity now uses 26 percent of total terrestrial evapotranspiration and 54 percent of runoff that is geographically and temporally accessible. Increased use of evapotranspiration will confer minimal benefits globally because … Humanity now uses 26 percent of total terrestrial evapotranspiration and 54 percent of runoff that is geographically and temporally accessible. Increased use of evapotranspiration will confer minimal benefits globally because most land suitable for rain-fed agriculture is already in production. New dam construction could increase accessible runoff by about 10 percent over the next 30 years, whereas population is projected to increase by more than 45 percent during that period.

Water in crisis: a guide to the world's fresh water resources

1993-01-01

Peter H. Gleick

1. An Introduction to Global Fresh Water Issues 2. World Fresh Water Resources 3. Water Quality and Health 4. Water and Ecosystems 5. Water and Agriculture 6. Water and Energy … 1. An Introduction to Global Fresh Water Issues 2. World Fresh Water Resources 3. Water Quality and Health 4. Water and Ecosystems 5. Water and Agriculture 6. Water and Energy 7. Water and Economic Development 8. Water, Politics, and International Law 9. Water in the 21st Century

ENTERING AN ERA OF WATER SCARCITY: THE CHALLENGES AHEAD

2000-08-01

Sandra Postel

Fresh water is a renewable resource, but it is also finite. Around the world, there are now numerous signs that human water use exceeds sustainable levels. Groundwater depletion, low or … Fresh water is a renewable resource, but it is also finite. Around the world, there are now numerous signs that human water use exceeds sustainable levels. Groundwater depletion, low or nonexistent river flows, and worsening pollution levels are among the more obvious indicators of water stress. In many areas, extracting more water for human uses jeopardizes the health of vital aquatic ecosystems. Satisfying the increased demands for food, water, and material goods of a growing global population while at the same time protecting the ecological services provided by natural water ecosystems requires new approaches to using and managing fresh water. In this article, I propose a global effort (1) to ensure that freshwater ecosystems receive the quantity, quality, and timing of flows needed for them to perform their ecological functions and (2) to work toward a goal of doubling water productivity. Meeting these challenges will require policies that promote rather than discourage water efficiency, as well as new partnerships that cross disciplinary and professional boundaries.

Water and Conflict: Fresh Water Resources and International Security

1993-01-01

Peter H. Gleick

Global Freshwater Resources: Soft-Path Solutions for the 21st Century

2003-11-28

Peter H. Gleick

Twentieth-century water policies relied on the construction of massive infrastructure in the form of dams, aqueducts, pipelines, and complex centralized treatment plants to meet human demands. These facilities brought tremendous … Twentieth-century water policies relied on the construction of massive infrastructure in the form of dams, aqueducts, pipelines, and complex centralized treatment plants to meet human demands. These facilities brought tremendous benefits to billions of people, but they also had serious and often unanticipated social, economical, and ecological costs. Many unsolved water problems remain, and past approaches no longer seem sufficient. A transition is under way to a "soft path" that complements centralized physical infrastructure with lower cost community-scale systems, decentralized and open decision-making, water markets and equitable pricing, application of efficient technology, and environmental protection.

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Desiccation of the Aral Sea: A Water Management Disaster in the Soviet Union

1988-09-02

Philip Micklin

The Aral Sea in the Soviet Union, formerly the world's fourth largest lake in area, is disappearing. Between 1960 and 1987, its level dropped nearly 13 meters, and its area … The Aral Sea in the Soviet Union, formerly the world's fourth largest lake in area, is disappearing. Between 1960 and 1987, its level dropped nearly 13 meters, and its area decreased by 40 percent. Recession has resulted from reduced inflow caused primarily by withdrawals of water for irrigation. Severe environmental problems have resulted. The sea could dry to a residual brine lake. Local water use is being improved and schemes to save parts of the sea have been proposed. Nevertheless, preservation of the Aral may require implementation of the controversial project to divert water from western Siberia into the Aral Sea basin.

On the Threshold: Environmental Changes as Causes of Acute Conflict

1991-01-01

Thomas Homer‐Dixon

Water, Air, and Soil Pollution

2009-12-01

J. T. Trevors

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Water, Drought, Climate Change, and Conflict in Syria

2014-03-03

Peter H. Gleick

Abstract The devastating civil war that began in Syria in March 2011 is the result of complex interrelated factors. The focus of the conflict is regime change, but the triggers … Abstract The devastating civil war that began in Syria in March 2011 is the result of complex interrelated factors. The focus of the conflict is regime change, but the triggers include a broad set of religious and sociopolitical factors, the erosion of the economic health of the country, a wave of political reform sweeping over the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Levant region, and challenges associated with climate variability and change and the availability and use of freshwater. As described here, water and climatic conditions have played a direct role in the deterioration of Syria’s economic conditions. There is a long history of conflicts over water in these regions because of the natural water scarcity, the early development of irrigated agriculture, and complex religious and ethnic diversity. In recent years, there has been an increase in incidences of water-related violence around the world at the subnational level attributable to the role that water plays in development disputes and economic activities. Because conflicts are rarely, if ever, attributable to single causes, conflict analysis and concomitant efforts at reducing the risks of conflict must consider a multitude of complex relationships and contributing factors. This paper assesses the complicated connections between water and conflict in Syria, looks more broadly at future climate-related risks for water systems, and offers some water management strategies for reducing those risks.

Water in Environmental Planning

1980-01-01

John R. Clark , Thomas Dunne , Luna B. Leopold

This book reviews many of the problems which currently confront the environmental planner - problems which promise to become even more signifcant in the near future. Water resources are examined … This book reviews many of the problems which currently confront the environmental planner - problems which promise to become even more signifcant in the near future. Water resources are examined essentially from a physical standpoint, although throughout the text the emphasis is on the application of basic hydrologic principles in problem solving. The stated aim of the authors is to make all those concerned with planning more aware of the opportunities and constraints of natural processes in maintaining or reclaiming environmental quality. They are successful in outlining the significant role of water in many environmental issues. The book provides a comprehensive review of the current literature associated with water resources, but perhaps more importantly can also be used as an introductory working document in dealing with particular environmental problems. Several chapters for instance include working examples to illustrate specific problem-solving techniques. The book is divided into four sections, the first of which describes six case studies and exemplifies many of the problems facing the environmental planner today. The remaining three sections discuss basic hydrologic principles, fluvial geomorphology and water quality, stressing the value of such studies for improved environmental management. The text is supplemented by bibliographies, photographs, tables, and diagrams.

Environmental Scarcities and Violent Conflict: Evidence from Cases

1994-01-01

Thomas Homer‐Dixon

Within the next fifty years, the planet's human population will probably pass nine billion, and global economic output may quintuple.Largely as a result, scarcities of renewable resources will increase sharply.The … Within the next fifty years, the planet's human population will probably pass nine billion, and global economic output may quintuple.Largely as a result, scarcities of renewable resources will increase sharply.The total area of high-quality agricultural land will drop, as will the extent of forests and the number of species they sustain.Coming generations will also see the widespread depletion and degradation of aquifers, rivers, and other water resources; the decline of many fisheries; and perhaps significant climate change.If such "environmental scarcities" become severe, could they precipitate violent civil or international conflict?I have previously surveyed the issues and evidence surrounding this question and proposed an agenda for further research. 1Here I report the results of an international research project guided by this agenda. 2Following a brief review of my original hypotheses and the project's research design, I present several general findings of this research that led me to revise the original hypotheses.The article continues with an account of empirical evidence for and against the revised hypotheses, and it concludes with an

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WATER IN CRISIS: PATHS TO SUSTAINABLE WATER USE

1998-08-01

Peter H. Gleick

A wide range of ecological and human crises result from inadequate access to, and the inappropriate management of, freshwater resources. These include destruction of aquatic ecosystems and extinction of species, … A wide range of ecological and human crises result from inadequate access to, and the inappropriate management of, freshwater resources. These include destruction of aquatic ecosystems and extinction of species, millions of deaths from water-related illnesses, and a growing risk of regional and international conflicts over scarce, shared water supplies. As human populations continue to grow, these problems are likely to become more frequent and serious. New approaches to long-term water planning and management that incorporate principles of sustainability and equity are required and are now being explored by national and international water experts and organizations. Seven “sustainability criteria” are discussed here, as part of an effort to reshape long-term water planning and management. Among these principles are guaranteed access to a basic amount of water necessary to maintain human health and to sustain ecosystems, basic protections for the renewability of water resources, and institutional recommendations for planning, management, and conflict resolution. “Backcasting” a positive future vision of the world’s water resources as a tool for developing rational policies and approaches for reducing water-related problems is also discussed in the context of the Comprehensive Freshwater Assessment prepared for the United Nations General Assembly in 1997.

River discharges of water and nutrients to the Mediterranean and Black Sea: Major drivers for ecosystem changes during past and future decades?

2009-02-22

Wolfgang Ludwig , Egon Dumont , Michel Meybeck +1 more

Global Water Resources: Vulnerability from Climate Change and Population Growth

2000-07-14

Charles J Vörösmarty , Pamela Green , J. Salisbury +1 more

The future adequacy of freshwater resources is difficult to assess, owing to a complex and rapidly changing geography of water supply and use. Numerical experiments combining climate model outputs, water … The future adequacy of freshwater resources is difficult to assess, owing to a complex and rapidly changing geography of water supply and use. Numerical experiments combining climate model outputs, water budgets, and socioeconomic information along digitized river networks demonstrate that (i) a large proportion of the world's population is currently experiencing water stress and (ii) rising water demands greatly outweigh greenhouse warming in defining the state of global water systems to 2025. Consideration of direct human impacts on global water supply remains a poorly articulated but potentially important facet of the larger global change question.

Armed Conflict and The Environment: A Critique of the Literature

1998-05-01

Nils Petter Gleditsch

Conflict over scarce resources, such as minerals, fish, water, and particularly territory, is a traditional source of armed struggle. Recently, wideranging claims have been made to the effect that environmental … Conflict over scarce resources, such as minerals, fish, water, and particularly territory, is a traditional source of armed struggle. Recently, wideranging claims have been made to the effect that environmental degradation will increase resource scarcity and therefore contribute to an increase in armed conflict. So far, there has been much controversy and little relevant systematic study of this phenomenon. Most scholarship on the relationship between resources, the environment, and armed conflict suffers from one or more of the following problems: (1) there is a lack of clarity over what is meant by `environmental conflict'; (2) researchers engage in definitional and polemical exercises rather than analysis; (3) important variables are neglected, notably political and economic factors which have a strong influence on conflict and mediate the influence of resource and environmental factors; (4) some models become so large and complex that they are virtually untestable; (5) cases are selected on values of the dependent variable; (6) the causality of the relationship is reversed; (7) postulated events in the future are cited as empirical evidence; (8) studies fail to distinguish between foreign and domestic conflict; and (9) confusion reigns about the appropriate level of analysis. While no publications are characterized by all of these problems, many have several of them. This article identifies a few lights in the wilderness and briefly outlines a program of research.

Virtual Water - the Water, Food, and Trade Nexus. Useful Concept or Misleading Metaphor?

2003-03-01

John Allan

(2003). Virtual Water - the Water, Food, and Trade Nexus. Useful Concept or Misleading Metaphor? Water International: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 106-113. (2003). Virtual Water - the Water, Food, and Trade Nexus. Useful Concept or Misleading Metaphor? Water International: Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 106-113.

The Structuring of a World Environmental Regime, 1870–1990

1997-01-01

John W. Meyer , David John Frank , Ann Hironaka +2 more

In recent decades a great expansion has occurred in world environmental organization, both governmental and nongovernmental, along with an explosion of worldwide discourse and communication about environmental problems. All of … In recent decades a great expansion has occurred in world environmental organization, both governmental and nongovernmental, along with an explosion of worldwide discourse and communication about environmental problems. All of this constitutes a world environmental regime. Using the term regime a little more broadly than usual, we define world environmental regime as a partially integrated collection of world-level organizations, understandings, and assumptions that specify the relationship of human society to nature. The rise of an environmental regime has accompanied greatly expanded organization and activity in many sectors of global society. Explaining the growth of the environmental regime, however, poses some problems. The interests and powers of the dominant actors in world society—nation-states and economic interests—came late to the environmental scene. Thus these forces cannot easily be used to explain the rise of world mobilization around the environment, in contrast with other sectors of global society (for example, the international economic and national security regimes).

Fishes of Wisconsin

1984-02-23

C. H. , G. Becker

Back in print! This magnificent, encyclopedic reference to 157 fish species which are found not only in Wisconsin but also in much of the Great Lakes region and Mississippi River … Back in print! This magnificent, encyclopedic reference to 157 fish species which are found not only in Wisconsin but also in much of the Great Lakes region and Mississippi River watershed has been a model for all other such works. In addition to comprehensive species accounts, Becker discusses water resources and fisheries management from both historical and practical policy perspectives.

Hydro-hegemony – a framework for analysis of trans-boundary water conflicts

2006-09-05

Mark Zeitoun , Jeroen Warner

The increasing structural and physical scarcity of water across the globe calls for a deeper understanding of trans-boundary water conflicts. Conventional analysis tends to downplay the role that power asymmetry … The increasing structural and physical scarcity of water across the globe calls for a deeper understanding of trans-boundary water conflicts. Conventional analysis tends to downplay the role that power asymmetry plays in creating and maintaining situations of water conflict that fall short of the violent form of war and to treat as unproblematic situations of cooperation occurring in an asymmetrical context. The conceptual Framework of Hydro-Hegemony presented herein attempts to give these two features – power and varying intensities of conflict – their respective place in the perennial and deeply political question: who gets how much water, how and why? Hydro-hegemony is hegemony at the river basin level, achieved through water resource control strategies such as resource capture, integration and containment. The strategies are executed through an array of tactics (e.g. coercion-pressure, treaties, knowledge construction, etc.) that are enabled by the exploitation of existing power asymmetries within a weak international institutional context. Political processes outside the water sector configure basin-wide hydro-political relations in a form ranging from the benefits derived from cooperation under hegemonic leadership to the inequitable aspects of domination. The outcome of the competition in terms of control over the resource is determined through the form of hydro-hegemony established, typically in favour of the most powerful actor. The Framework of Hydro-hegemony is applied to the Nile, Jordan and Tigris and Euphrates river basins, where it is found that current hydro-hegemonic configurations tend towards the dominative form.. There is evidence in each case of power asymmetries influencing an inequitable outcome – at the expense of lingering, low-intensity conflicts. It is proposed that the framework provides an analytical paradigm useful for examining the options of such powerful or hegemonized riparians and how they might move away from domination towards cooperation.

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Warming increases the risk of civil war in Africa

2009-11-24

Marshall Burke , Edward Miguel , Shanker Satyanath +2 more

Armed conflict within nations has had disastrous humanitarian consequences throughout much of the world. Here we undertake the first comprehensive examination of the potential impact of global climate change on … Armed conflict within nations has had disastrous humanitarian consequences throughout much of the world. Here we undertake the first comprehensive examination of the potential impact of global climate change on armed conflict in sub-Saharan Africa. We find strong historical linkages between civil war and temperature in Africa, with warmer years leading to significant increases in the likelihood of war. When combined with climate model projections of future temperature trends, this historical response to temperature suggests a roughly 54% increase in armed conflict incidence by 2030, or an additional 393,000 battle deaths if future wars are as deadly as recent wars. Our results suggest an urgent need to reform African governments' and foreign aid donors' policies to deal with rising temperatures.

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Climate change, environmental degradation and armed conflict

2007-08-01

Clionadh Raleigh , Henrik Urdal

Introducing the UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset

2013-07-01

Ralph Sundberg , Erik Melander

This article presents the UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset (UCDP GED). The UCDP GED is an event dataset that disaggregates three types of organized violence (state-based conflict, non-state conflict, and one-sided … This article presents the UCDP Georeferenced Event Dataset (UCDP GED). The UCDP GED is an event dataset that disaggregates three types of organized violence (state-based conflict, non-state conflict, and one-sided violence) both spatially and temporally. Each event – defined as an instance of organized violence with at least one fatality – comes with date, geographical location, and identifiers that allow the dataset to be linked to and merged with other UCDP datasets. The first version of the dataset covers events of fatal violence on the African continent between 1989 and 2010. This article, firstly, introduces the rationale for the new dataset, and explains the basic coding procedures as well as the quality controls. Secondly, we discuss some of the data’s potential weaknesses in representing the universe of organized violence, as well as some potential biases induced by the operationalizations. Thirdly, we provide an example of how the data can be used, by illustrating the association between cities and organized violence, taking population density into account. The UCDP GED is a useful resource for conflict analyses below the state and country-year levels, and can provide us with new insights into the geographical determinants and temporal sequencing of warfare and violence.

Security and climate change

2003-04-01

Jon Barnett

Climate change, rainfall, and social conflict in Africa

2012-01-01

Cullen S. Hendrix , Idean Salehyan

Much of the debate over the security implications of climate change revolves around whether changing weather patterns will lead to future conflict. This article addresses whether deviations from normal rainfall … Much of the debate over the security implications of climate change revolves around whether changing weather patterns will lead to future conflict. This article addresses whether deviations from normal rainfall patterns affect the propensity for individuals and groups to engage in disruptive activities such as demonstrations, riots, strikes, communal conflict, and anti-government violence. In contrast to much of the environmental security literature, it uses a much broader definition of conflict that includes, but is not limited to, organized rebellion. Using a new database of over 6,000 instances of social conflict over 20 years – the Social Conflict in Africa Database (SCAD) – it examines the effect of deviations from normal rainfall patterns on various types of conflict. The results indicate that rainfall variability has a significant effect on both large-scale and smaller-scale instances of political conflict. Rainfall correlates with civil war and insurgency, although wetter years are more likely to suffer from violent events. Extreme deviations in rainfall – particularly dry and wet years – are associated positively with all types of political conflict, though the relationship is strongest with respect to violent events, which are more responsive to abundant than scarce rainfall. By looking at a broader spectrum of social conflict, rather than limiting the analysis to civil war, we demonstrate a robust relationship between environmental shocks and unrest.

Sink or Swim? Water security for growth and development

2007-07-31

David Grey , Claudia Sadoff

Achieving basic water security, both harnessing the productive potential of water and limiting its destructive impact, has always been a societal priority. To capture this duality, water security is defined … Achieving basic water security, both harnessing the productive potential of water and limiting its destructive impact, has always been a societal priority. To capture this duality, water security is defined here as the availability of an acceptable quantity and quality of water for health, livelihoods, ecosystems and production, coupled with an acceptable level of water-related risks to people, environments and economies. This paper looks broadly at those countries that have achieved water security, the paths they chose and the costs they paid, and those countries that have not achieved water security and how this constrains economies and societies. It defines three typologies: countries that have harnessed hydrology, those hampered by hydrology and those that are hostage to hydrology. It finds that countries remaining hostage to hydrology are typically among the world's poorest. They face “difficult” hydrologies often characterized by high inter- and intra-annual rainfall and runoff variability, where the level of institutional and infrastructure investment needed is very high and the ability to invest is low. This paper seeks to capture the dynamics of achieving water security in a hypothetical water and growth “S-curve”, which illustrates how a minimum platform of investments in water institutions and infrastructure can produce a tipping point beyond which water makes an increasingly positive contribution to growth and how that tipping point will vary in different circumstances. As there are inevitable trade-offs, achieving water security is never without social and environmental costs; in some countries these are significant, often unforeseen and even unacceptable. This brief analysis suggests that the only historically demonstrated path to achieving water security at the national level has been through investment in an evolving balance of complementary institutions and infrastructure, but that lessons exist for following this basic path in more sustainable and balanced ways. Insights are provided for balancing and sequencing investments, adapting to changing values and priorities, and pushing down the social and environmental costs. The paper concludes that most water-insecure countries today face far greater challenges than those that achieved water security in the last century and are wealthy countries today. They face more difficult hydrologies and a greater understanding of and therefore greater responsibility for, the social and environment trade-offs inherent in water management. As the costs of poor countries not achieving water security, in terms of human suffering, sustained poverty, constrained growth and social unrest, would be very high, achieving water security is a challenge that must be recognized and must be met.

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The political ecology of war: natural resources and armed conflicts

2001-06-01

Philippe Le Billon

Climate change, human security and violent conflict

2007-05-23

Jon Barnett , W. Neil Adger

The Aral Sea Disaster

2006-11-28

Philip Micklin

The Aral Sea is a huge terminal lake located among the deserts of Central Asia. Over the past 10 millennia, it has repeatedly filled and dried, owing both to natural … The Aral Sea is a huge terminal lake located among the deserts of Central Asia. Over the past 10 millennia, it has repeatedly filled and dried, owing both to natural and human forces. The most recent desiccation started in the early 1960s and owes overwhelmingly to the expansion of irrigation that has drained its two tributary rivers. Lake level has fallen 23 m, area shrunk 74%, volume decreased 90%, and salinity grew from 10 to more than 100g/l, causing negative ecological changes, including decimation of native fish species, initiation of dust/salt storms, degradation of deltaic biotic communities, and climate change around the former shoreline. The population residing around the lake has also been negatively impacted. There is little hope in the foreseeable future to fully restore the Aral Sea, but measures to preserve/rehabilitate parts of the water body and the deltas are feasible.

Climate and Conflict

2015-05-14

Marshall Burke , Solomon Hsiang , Edward Miguel

We review the emerging literature on climate and conflict. We consider multiple types of human conflict, including both interpersonal conflict, such as assault and murder, and intergroup conflict, including riots … We review the emerging literature on climate and conflict. We consider multiple types of human conflict, including both interpersonal conflict, such as assault and murder, and intergroup conflict, including riots and civil war. We discuss key methodological issues in estimating causal relationships and largely focus on natural experiments that exploit variation in climate over time. Using a hierarchical meta-analysis that allows us to both estimate the mean effect and quantify the degree of variability across 55 studies, we find that deviations from moderate temperatures and precipitation patterns systematically increase conflict risk. Contemporaneous temperature has the largest average impact, with each 1σ increase in temperature increasing interpersonal conflict by 2.4% and intergroup conflict by 11.3%. We conclude by highlighting research priorities, including a better understanding of the mechanisms linking climate to conflict, societies’ ability to adapt to climatic changes, and the likely impacts of future global warming.

Climate change in the Fertile Crescent and implications of the recent Syrian drought

2015-03-02

C. P. Kelley , Shahrzad Mohtadi , Mark A. Cane +2 more

Significance There is evidence that the 2007−2010 drought contributed to the conflict in Syria. It was the worst drought in the instrumental record, causing widespread crop failure and a mass … Significance There is evidence that the 2007−2010 drought contributed to the conflict in Syria. It was the worst drought in the instrumental record, causing widespread crop failure and a mass migration of farming families to urban centers. Century-long observed trends in precipitation, temperature, and sea-level pressure, supported by climate model results, strongly suggest that anthropogenic forcing has increased the probability of severe and persistent droughts in this region, and made the occurrence of a 3-year drought as severe as that of 2007−2010 2 to 3 times more likely than by natural variability alone. We conclude that human influences on the climate system are implicated in the current Syrian conflict.

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Quantifying the Influence of Climate on Human Conflict

2013-08-02

Solomon Hsiang , Marshall Burke , Edward Miguel

Introduction Despite the existence of institutions designed to promote peace, interactions between individuals and groups sometimes lead to conflict. Understanding the causes of such conflict is a major project in … Introduction Despite the existence of institutions designed to promote peace, interactions between individuals and groups sometimes lead to conflict. Understanding the causes of such conflict is a major project in the social sciences, and researchers in anthropology, economics, geography, history, political science, psychology, and sociology have long debated the extent to which climatic changes are responsible. Recent advances and interest have prompted an explosion of quantitative studies on this question. Methods We carried out a comprehensive synthesis of the rapidly growing literature on climate and human conflict. We examined many types of human conflict, ranging from interpersonal violence and crime to intergroup violence and political instability and further to institutional breakdown and the collapse of civilizations. We focused on quantitative studies that can reliably infer causal associations between climate variables and conflict outcomes. The studies we examined are experiments or “natural experiments”; the latter exploit variations in climate over time that are plausibly independent of other variables that also affect conflict. In many cases, we obtained original data from studies that did not meet this criterion and used a common statistical method to reanalyze these data. In total, we evaluated 60 primary studies that have examined 45 different conflict data sets. We collected findings across time periods spanning 10,000 BCE to the present and across all major world regions. Results Deviations from normal precipitation and mild temperatures systematically increase the risk of conflict, often substantially. This relationship is apparent across spatial scales ranging from a single building to the globe and at temporal scales ranging from an anomalous hour to an anomalous millennium. Our meta-analysis of studies that examine populations in the post-1950 era suggests that the magnitude of climate’s influence on modern conflict is both substantial and highly statistically significant ( P < 0.001). Each 1-SD change in climate toward warmer temperatures or more extreme rainfall increases the frequency of interpersonal violence by 4% and intergroup conflict by 14% (median estimates). Discussion We conclude that there is more agreement across studies regarding the influence of climate on human conflict than has been recognized previously. Given the large potential changes in precipitation and temperature regimes projected for the coming decades—with locations throughout the inhabited world expected to warm by 2 to 4 SDs by 2050—amplified rates of human conflict could represent a large and critical social impact of anthropogenic climate change in both low- and high-income countries.

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International waters: identifying basins at risk

2003-02-01

Aaron T. Wolf , Shira B. Yoffe , Mark Giordano

Despite the growing literature on water and conflict in international river basins, little empirical work has been done to bolster common conclusions which are so widely reported. In order to … Despite the growing literature on water and conflict in international river basins, little empirical work has been done to bolster common conclusions which are so widely reported. In order to address this gap, we set out to assess all reported events of either conflict or cooperation between nations over water resources during the last 50 years and to use these events to inform the identification of basins at greatest risk of political stress in the near future (5-10 years). The study is divided into three components:Compilation and assessment of relevant biophysical, socio-economic and geopolitical data in a global Geographic Information System (GIS), and use of these factors to determine history-based indicators for future tensions along international waterways.Using these indicators, identification of basins at risk for the coming decade.Identification and assessment of the potential for mitigating factors and new technologies resulting in a future different than that predicted by history-based indicators. In general, we find that most of the parameters regularly identified as indicators of water conflict are actually only weakly linked to disputes, but that institutional capacity within a basin, whether defined as water management bodies or treaties, or generally positive international relations are as important, if not more so, than the physical aspects of a system. It turns out then that very rapid changes, either on the institutional side or in the physical system, which outpace the institutional capacity to absorb that change, are at the root of most water conflict, as reflected in two sets of indicators: 1) “internationalized” basins, i.e. basins which include the management structures of newly independent states, and 2) basins which include unilateral development projects and the absence of cooperative regimes. By taking our parameters of rapid change as indicators-internationalized basins and major planned projects in hostile and/or institution-less basins-we are able to identify the basins with settings which suggest the potential for political stresses in the coming five to ten years. These basins include: the Ganges-Brahmaputra, Han, Incomati, Kunene, Kura-Araks, Lake Chad, La Plata, Lempa, Limpopo, Mekong, Ob (Ertis), Okavango, Orange, Salween, Senegal, Tumen and Zambezi. We then identify “red flags,” or markers related to these indicators, which might be monitored in the future. Finally, recognizing that history-based indicators may lose validity over time in a rapidly changing world, we ask, “what about the future, which may look nothing like the past,” and focus on four topics: new technologies for negotiation and management; globalization, privatization and the WTO; the geopolitics of desalination; and the changing sources of water and the changing nature of conflict.

Conflict and cooperation along international waterways

1998-04-01

Alexander M. Wolf

There are 261 international rivers, covering almost one half of the total land surface of the globe and untold numbers of shared aquifers. Water has been a cause of political … There are 261 international rivers, covering almost one half of the total land surface of the globe and untold numbers of shared aquifers. Water has been a cause of political tensions between Arabs and Israelis, Indians and Bangladeshis, Americans and Mexicans, and all ten riparian states of the Nile river. Water is the only scarce resource for which there is no substitute, over which there is poorly developed international law and the need for which is overwhelming, constant and immediate. As a consequence, `water' and `war' are two topics being assessed together with increasing frequency. This paper investigates the reality of historic water conflict and draws lessons for the plausibility of future `water wars'. The datasets of conflict are explored for those related to water — only seven minor skirmishes are found in this century; no war has ever been fought over water. In contrast, 145 water-related treaties were signed in the same period. These treaties, collected and catalogued in a computerized database along with relevant notes from negotiators, are assessed for patterns of conflict resolution. War over water seems neither strategically rational, hydrographically effective, nor economically viable. Shared interests along a waterway seem to consistently outweigh water's conflict-inducing characteristics. Furthermore, once cooperative water regimes are established through treaty, they turn out to be impressively resilient over time, even between otherwise hostile riparians and even as conflict is waged over other issues. These patterns suggest that the more valuable lesson of international water is as a resources whose characteristics tend to induce cooperation and incite violence only in the exception.

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2015: Water for a Sustainable World

2016-08-31

Jessica Lucinda Amprako

Report title: The United Nations World Water Development Report 2015: Water for a Sustainable World Year of Publication: 2015 Publisher: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Place of Publication: … Report title: The United Nations World Water Development Report 2015: Water for a Sustainable World Year of Publication: 2015 Publisher: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Place of Publication: Paris, France ISBN: 978-92-3-100071-3

Water in crisis: a guide to the world’s fresh water resources

1994-07-01

Caroline Thomas

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2017 Wastewater: The Untapped Resource

2017-10-16

Permani C. Weerasekara

Published by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) Published year: 2017 ISBN: 978-92-3-100201-4 Published by United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) Published year: 2017 ISBN: 978-92-3-100201-4

Anthropogenic stresses on the world’s big rivers

2018-12-07

Jim Best

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

2012-04-27

More than one million barriers fragment Europe’s rivers

2020-12-16

Barbara Belletti , Carlos García de Leániz , Joshua Jones +7 more

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New Introduction to Multiple Time Series Analysis

2005-01-01

Helmut Lütkepohl

Globalization of water: sharing the planet's freshwater resources

2009-05-01

View PDF Chat

Soil loss estimation and mapping of water erosion management strategies in the Northern region of Rwanda

2025-06-25

Martin Nizeyimana , Marie Claire Mukamusoni , Benjamin Bukombe +1 more | Archives of Agriculture and Environmental Science

This study was conducted in Gakenke, Musanze and Rulindo districts in northern province of Rwanda from December 2019 to October 2021 to determine Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) status, mapping … This study was conducted in Gakenke, Musanze and Rulindo districts in northern province of Rwanda from December 2019 to October 2021 to determine Soil and Water Conservation (SWC) status, mapping soil erosion areas, annual estimation of soil loss and spatial distribution in northern Rwanda. The study used Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model based on erosivity index, erodibility of soil, slope steepness, slope distance, vegetation covers and conservation practice parameters generated through arc GIS. The utilized data included the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for production of slope steepness. Landsat 8 have been processed in ERDAS Imagine 2014 for land use and land cover. Field data for conservation practice factor and rainfall data for soil erosivity in Google Earth Pro and ArcGIS respectively have been produced. The results indicated that the forest was identified as the largest area covering of 84.08% followed by built up areas with 10.43%, radical terraces account for 4.45 %, bare soil (3.23%), agroforestry (0.77%), waterbodies (0.727%), riverbanks (0.38%), and wetland (0.35%). The average rate of water erosion was discovered as 72 t. ha–1. y–1 and observed that soil erosion is more severe in steep areas than in other places. Inadequate erosion control management results as the cause of spatial distribution of erosion. Thus, it is advisable to prioritize soil and water management practices in steep and mid-elevation unprotected areas before applying them to lower elevations.

Vegetation colonization and biodiversity dynamics on the exposed Aral Sea bed: A 35 years investigation

2025-06-24

Bekhzod Adilov , Khabibullo Shomurodov , T. Rakhimova +6 more | Ecological Indicators

The problem of social justice in environmental peacebuilding: Between thin and thick justice in Liberia

2025-06-24

Jacobo Grajales , Kristofer Johnson , Hueward Neal | Environment and Security

Recent research on environmental peacebuilding has encouraged scholars to move away from technocratic definitions of peace and to pay greater attention to how peacebuilding policies interact with pre-existing relations of … Recent research on environmental peacebuilding has encouraged scholars to move away from technocratic definitions of peace and to pay greater attention to how peacebuilding policies interact with pre-existing relations of power, domination and capital accumulation. This article builds on this work to examine a rarely explored dimension of environmental peacebuilding: social justice. Using the case of Liberia, we argue that environmental peacebuilding policies offer a context for the expression of diverse claims and expectations framed in terms of social justice. Our analytical framework argues that these competing conceptions of justice can be categorised along a continuum ranging from ‘thin’ to ‘thick’ approaches. Empirically, we examine how thick and thin conceptions of justice are elaborated by multiple actors, including aid agencies, NGOs, advocacy organisations and ordinary people. As we move from the analysis of policy design to the study of forestry at the local level, we show how a thin conception of social justice is adopted by governments and the development industry, and what the implications of this choice are. We conclude that thin conceptions can contribute to the consolidation of exploitative and unequal power relations.

PRACTICES OF GREEN COLONIALISM AND ECOLOGICAL APARTHEID IN THE MIDDLE EAST

2025-06-24

Ayşe Yaşar | Ankara Üniversitesi Dil ve Tarih-Coğrafya Fakültesi Dergisi

Green Colonialism is a colonial method that works the colonial power's own interests in the lands it wants to benefit from and is featured by non-environmental practices. Ecological apartheid is … Green Colonialism is a colonial method that works the colonial power's own interests in the lands it wants to benefit from and is featured by non-environmental practices. Ecological apartheid is the the colonial power's combination of environmental colonial policies with apartheid practices targeting areas inhabited by a certain group. This research examines green colonialism and ecological apartheid practices within the framework of the Middle East. Some of the former colony states in the Middle East had to maintain some relations with the former colonial power during the state formation process. Furthermore, many of these states are far from being democratic and egalitarian. Consequently, certain Middle Eastern countries and societies have been exposed to Green Colonialism and/or Ecological Apartheid policies, either externally or internally. The aim of this research is to draw a framework covering the region on this subject. For this purpose, the policies implemented by Israel in Palestinian territories, the oil extraction operations conducted by Western companies in Middle Eastern countries, and some of the unequal policies in the internal workings of these countries will be analyzed from the perspectives of green colonialism and ecological apartheid. In this research, academic books and articles, memoirs, newspapers and news websites, international agreements and reports were used while collecting data. In the analysis of the data, the critical geopolitical approach, which focuses on the individual, society and the environment, and the postcolonial geographical perspective, which is based on the critique of the colonial discourse were used as a theoretical framework. The study concludes that, in former colonial countries, various policies and practices are colonial, the extent to which they serve colonial and racist approaches should be questioned, international conventions should be updated and the international justice mechanism should work to prevent such practices, and domestic environmental laws should be regulated and implemented.

Collaborative versus adversarial approaches to addressing transboundary water disputes – what do implementation committees have to offer?

2025-06-23

Alistair Rieu‐Clarke | Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law

Environmental security

2025-06-23

Peter Hough | Routledge eBooks

HYDROBIOLOGICAL STUDIES OF THE WATER BODIES OF THE SULAK AND TEREK RIVERS IN THE REPUBLIC OF DAGESTAN

2025-06-23

Alevtina Georgievna Ardabyeva , Lyudmila Vitalevna Nikulina , E. Minakova +1 more | Ekosistemy

A brief qualitative and quantitative description of the main groups of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and zoobenthos of the Sulak and Terek rivers during the winter-summer period is provided. Research indicated that … A brief qualitative and quantitative description of the main groups of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and zoobenthos of the Sulak and Terek rivers during the winter-summer period is provided. Research indicated that the qualitative composition and abundance of phytoplankton in the Sulak River increased from winter to summer and from the upper sampling point to the river mouth. Small celled diatoms dominated in all seasons. The basis of the species diversity of zooplankton was composed of copepods and protozoans. The maximum quantitative indicators of animal plankton were recorded in winter, followed by a decrease toward summer. The benthic fauna of the Sulak River during the entire study period was represented by the following groups of invertebrates: worms, crustaceans and insects. The maximum abundance and biomass were observed in the spring, coinciding with intense development of the worm group, particularly oligochaetes. The highest values of the qualitative and quantitative composition of the phytocenosis of the Terek River were noted in the winter period of the study, the lowest values were recorded in the summer. Changes in the biomass and abundance of zooplankton occurred in a stepwise manner, with a reduction in quantitative indicators from winter to spring, followed by an increase in summer. Representatives of worms and insects were found in the zoobenthos of the Terek River throughout all seasons. Favorable conditions for the development of zoobenthos were observed at the mouth and in the middle zone of the study area. The maximum indices of the abundance and biomass of zoobenthos were recorded in the summer due to the development of representatives of the insect group.

Governing Peace and Security in the Anthropocene

2025-06-23

Dahlia Simangan | Bristol University Press eBooks

“Between Ford and Gandhi”: André Siegfried’s Environmental Geopolitics, <i>c.</i>1898–1956

2025-06-23

António Ferraz de Oliveira | Modern Intellectual History

In 1955, André Siegfried wondered whether the planet was entering a new geological age, wrought by industrialism and evident in major geopolitical changes. In this article, I trace his intellectual … In 1955, André Siegfried wondered whether the planet was entering a new geological age, wrought by industrialism and evident in major geopolitical changes. In this article, I trace his intellectual journey towards this claim and his singular focus on the international politics of agriculture and environmental change. First, I trace Siegfried’s early ideal of French rural democracy and its prudential virtues amid inter-imperial competition and interwar debt crises. Second, after the Dust Bowl, I examine Siegfried’s shifting engagements with environmental arguments against mechanized monoculture, focusing on his fears of erosion, and, after 1945, the loss of soil fertility and ecological resilience associated with small-scale mixed farming. Doubled through a geopolitical lens, I show how Siegfried saw such shifts as existential threats to his idyll of France’s rural democracy and global power. To conclude, I reflect on how Siegfried’s environmental geopolitics can help us rebuild intellectual histories of Anthropocene politics.

Threatened Aquatic Plants of the Southern Tigris-Euphrates Basin: Status, Threats, and Conservation Priorities

2025-06-22

Murtada D. Naser , Amaal Yasser , Jonas Schoelynck +1 more | Plants

The Tigris-Euphrates basin hosts a diverse assemblage of native aquatic plants vital to the region’s ecological and cultural heritage. However, decades of hydrological alterations, pollution, salinity intrusion, habitat destruction, and … The Tigris-Euphrates basin hosts a diverse assemblage of native aquatic plants vital to the region’s ecological and cultural heritage. However, decades of hydrological alterations, pollution, salinity intrusion, habitat destruction, and climate change have caused significant declines in aquatic plant species diversity. This review compiles historical and contemporary information on key native aquatic plant species, assesses their current conservation status, identifies major threats, and provides recommendations for their protection. Sensitive submerged and floating species, including Vallisneria spiralis, Najas marina, and Potamogeton spp., have been particularly affected, with many now being rare or locally extinct. Although restoration efforts in the Mesopotamian Marshes have partially restored some wetlands, aquatic plant conservation remains largely overlooked. We propose targeted recovery plans, integration of aquatic plants into wetland management, enhancement of water quality measures, and increased cross-border hydrological cooperation. Protecting native aquatic flora is essential for maintaining the ecological integrity and resilience of the Tigris-Euphrates basin.

The issue of transboundary water use as a cause of existing and potential regional conflicts

2025-06-21

Andrei Andreevich Sizov | Sociopolitical sciences

The main purpose of this article is to highlight the increasing significance of water scarcity as a factor in international relations and geopolitical influence/dependence among states. The study is based … The main purpose of this article is to highlight the increasing significance of water scarcity as a factor in international relations and geopolitical influence/dependence among states. The study is based on one of the aspects of the global freshwater scarcity – transboundary water use. The causes of international tensions and conflicts arising from the uncoordinated use of water resources of transboundary hydrological objects are considered. The study emphasizes the increasing value of freshwater as a vital resource and the increasing limitations on access to water sources due to economic development, climate change, and demographic shifts. Areas with a high probability of international conflicts caused by uncoordinated water use in key transboundary water bodies are identified. The article provides a detailed analysis of the causes and prospects of both existing and emerging regional conflicts driven by transboundary water use issues.

Effective Modes of Transboundary Water-Related Cooperation to Turn Future Climate Conflict Risks into Opportunities

2025-06-20

Cong Cong , Haozhi Pan , Yiming Yang +7 more | Research Square (Research Square)

<title>Abstract</title> Geopolitical conflicts can rapidly escalate over water resources, particularly in regions already facing vulnerabilities amplified by climate change. At the same time, environmental challenges can be viewed as opportunities … <title>Abstract</title> Geopolitical conflicts can rapidly escalate over water resources, particularly in regions already facing vulnerabilities amplified by climate change. At the same time, environmental challenges can be viewed as opportunities for transboundary cooperation, offering a path to mutual understanding and collaboration. This study aims to identify and analyze the effectiveness of water-related cooperation modes in mitigating conflicts, particularly under climate change scenarios, using a framework that leverages large language models (LLMs), retrieval-augmented generation (RAG), and interpretable machine learning. We analyze over 2,000 global transboundary water cooperation and conflicts cases from 1951 to 2019, going beyond the limitations of small-scale qualitative studies and enabling granular evaluation of impacts. The study identifies six cooperation modes: <italic>Cross-Border Basin Agreements, Collaborative Planning and Adaptation Strategies, Joint Water Allocation Models, Joint Data-Sharing Systems, Transboundary Water Quality Standards, and Coordinated Hydropower Operations.</italic> The evaluation shows that integrating <italic>Cross-Border Basin Agreements, Collaborative Planning and Adaptation Strategies,</italic> and <italic>Joint Water Allocation Models</italic> are highly effective, with the potential to mitigate around 1.11 (95% CI: 0.32–1.90) conflicts over five years. <italic>Cross-Border Basin Agreements</italic> and <italic>Transboundary Water Quality</italic> are recommended for less affluent countries, while <italic>Joint Data-Sharing Systems</italic> are most effective for countries under high water stress. Climate change will intensify water-related conflicts in the future, doubling conflicts in South America, Middle Southern Africa, and Eastern Asia by 2050, while climate action could nearly eliminate conflicts in high-risk regions and cut them by half in many other regions. However, the effectiveness of cooperative strategies is limited in less developed regions, underscoring the urgent need for international support and inclusive diplomacy to ensure global water security and stability.

Pathways to instability: A synthetic framework to parse connections between water and conflict

2025-06-20

Penny Beames , Kate A. Brauman , Patrick Keys +6 more | Environment and Security

While water has long been an object and mechanism of conflict, predicting water conflict remains a challenge. Little evidence supports strong, direct causal, or statistical links. Yet, connections between water … While water has long been an object and mechanism of conflict, predicting water conflict remains a challenge. Little evidence supports strong, direct causal, or statistical links. Yet, connections between water and conflict remain relevant. As climate-driven water disturbances increase, it is imperative to understand how monitorable and predictable drivers like droughts and floods may affect political instability, of which conflict is a subset. Drawing from a variety of bodies of literature, we synthesize theory and case studies on water and conflict and integrate them into a generalized Pathways to Instability Framework. This framework presents a novel arrangement of conceptual categories that parse the biophysical and social elements that make up the multi-step, indirect links from water disturbance to instability. We demonstrate the framework’s usefulness by organizing literature on the onset of the Syrian Civil War and showing how disagreements among findings stem from studies on different links in the causal chain. The framework’s linear nature effaces specificity and depth in favor of simplicity, which helps evaluate the importance of different drivers. Acknowledging that policy contends with intertwined rather than standalone issues, the conceptual categories present discrete entry points in which policy-makers can devise and assess the value of interventions.

The making of a hydrofrontier: geopolitics, securitization and ‘green’ energy imaginaries in India's eastern borderlands

2025-06-20

Michelle Irengbam , Christopher Sneddon | Political Geography

Climate Change, Conflict, and (In)Security: Hot War

2025-06-19

Adam Charboneau | Global Change Peace & Security

Farmers' Perception towards Sand Deposition Effects on Agriculture in Jamuna River Floodplain, Bangladesh

2025-06-19

Muhammad Ziaul Hoque , Md. Ataur Rahman , Shahriar Hasan +7 more | South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics

Seasonal flooding often leads to sand accumulation on farmlands, which affects soil fertility, reduces crop yields, and disrupts farming activities. This study explores farmers’ perceptions towards the impact of sand … Seasonal flooding often leads to sand accumulation on farmlands, which affects soil fertility, reduces crop yields, and disrupts farming activities. This study explores farmers’ perceptions towards the impact of sand deposition on agricultural land and livelihoods along the Jamuna River floodplain in Kazipur Upazila, Bangladesh. Data were collected from 80 farmers in two unions through face to face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Findings revealed that respondent farmers showed marked individual differences in their socio-economic status. Most farmers believe sand deposition significantly reduces agricultural productivity (agreed by 90% of respondents), causes the loss of arable land (91.3%), degrades soil (90%), and leads to economic losses (88.8%). These high agreement levels reflect strong concern about the negative impacts of sand deposition. Statistical analysis revealed significant positive relationships between farmers’ perceptions and factors such as agricultural income (r = 0.322, p < 0.01), distance from the riverbank (r = 0.427, p < 0.01), and the extent of land affected by sand deposition (r = 0.308, p < 0.01). The findings highlight the urgent need for sustainable land management strategies and targeted support to protect agricultural livelihoods in vulnerable riverine areas.

Ecological change and its impact on fishing- a risk perception study from Ramsar site, Loktak lake, in Manipur, India

2025-06-19

Avijit Mistri , Md Syed Salimuddin , Ongtham Kipjen Singh +1 more | GeoJournal

Ulusal Güvenlik Strateji Belgeleri Çerçevesinde ABD Başkanlarının Çevresel Güvenlik Politikaları

2025-06-18

Serap Kocaoğlu , İ̇smet SARIBAL | SAVSAD Savunma ve Savaş Araştırmaları Dergisi

Kopenhag Okulu’na göre bir sorun, varoluşsal bir tehdit oluşturduğu söylemiyle güvenlik alanına taşınabilir (güvenlikleştirme) veya olağan bir politik mesele olarak yeniden çerçevelenebilir (güvenlik-dışılaştırma). Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nin bu bağlamdaki politikaları, seçilen … Kopenhag Okulu’na göre bir sorun, varoluşsal bir tehdit oluşturduğu söylemiyle güvenlik alanına taşınabilir (güvenlikleştirme) veya olağan bir politik mesele olarak yeniden çerçevelenebilir (güvenlik-dışılaştırma). Amerika Birleşik Devletleri’nin bu bağlamdaki politikaları, seçilen yönetimlerin ideolojik duruşları ve ekonomik ve uluslararası önceliklerine göre değişiklik göstermiştir. Demokrat yönetimler çevresel sorunların varoluşsal bir tehdit oluşturduğu söylemiyle çevrenin güvenlikleştirilmesine yönelik aktif bir politika izlerken, Cumhuriyetçi yönetimler iklim değişikliği meselesine mesafeli yaklaşmış ve çevresel sorunları güvenlik alanının dışında bırakmışlardır. Bu çalışmada, çevresel sorunların ulusal güvenlik konusu olarak ele alınmaya başlandığı ve çevresel güvenlik kavramının Ulusal Güvenlik Strateji Belgeleri (UGSB) içinde yer aldığı 1990-2024 dönemi incelenmiştir. Söz konusu dönemde iktidara gelen ABD yönetimlerinin çevresel güvenlik ve iklim değişikliği politikaları yayınlanan UGSB’ler temel alınarak Kopenhag Okulunun güvenlikleştirme teorisi çerçevesinde değerlendirilmiştir.

Contribution of Agricultural Organizations to the Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihood in Rwanda: Case Study of One Acre Fund-Tubura Rwanda in Kayonza District

2025-06-18

Theodore Rusesabahizi , Jean Baptiste Nsengiyumva | East African Journal of Agriculture and Biotechnology

Rwanda's smallholder farmers, crucial to the rural economy, face ongoing challenges like low productivity, limited market access, and inadequate resources despite interventions from organizations like One Acre Fund-Tubura Rwanda. These … Rwanda's smallholder farmers, crucial to the rural economy, face ongoing challenges like low productivity, limited market access, and inadequate resources despite interventions from organizations like One Acre Fund-Tubura Rwanda. These issues threaten food security and poverty reduction, highlighting the need for empirical research on the effectiveness of such interventions, particularly in the Kayonza District. This study examines the contribution of agricultural organizations to smallholder farmers' livelihoods in Rwanda, using One Acre Fund-Tubura in Kayonza District as a case study from 2019 to 2023. Using a descriptive and correlational research design, the study analyzed data from 394 beneficiaries of the program, selected using stratified, random, and purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, T-test, and correlation analysis using SPSS for quantitative data. Key findings reveal that 83.8% of farmers have engaged with Tubura for over a decade, accessing critical services such as fertilizers and seeds, which are universally provided, alongside selective interventions like agroforestry seedlings and training. Tubura's support significantly enhanced agricultural productivity, with maize yields increasing by over 2000 kg/ha and corresponding income doubling post-intervention. Farmers reported substantial progress in food security, education, and health, albeit with moderate improvements in asset accumulation. The study highlights a positive correlation between Tubura’s interventions and livelihood indicators, particularly in agricultural productivity (r = 0.752), emphasizing the impact of sustained engagement. Challenges such as delayed input delivery and limited accessibility to Tubura shops were noted, underscoring areas for improvement to maximize benefits for smallholder farmers. The study recommended expanding the distribution of fertilizers and seeds to sustain and enhance agricultural productivity while also increasing the frequency and scope of training sessions and extension services to offer farmers more comprehensive support.

Governing Peace and Security in the Anthropocene

2025-06-17

Dahlia Simangan | Bristol University Press eBooks

Climate change as spatial change: repercussions of the disastrous Daniel flood in Thessaly Region on its territorial future

2025-06-17

Apostolos Lagarias | GeoJournal

Scientific uptake in United Nations Security Council debates on climate change and security

2025-06-17

Nina von Uexkull , Halvard Buhaug | Climatic Change

Socio-Economic Comparative Study for Lake Manzalah and the Existing State

2025-06-17

Ajay Adithya M , El- Sonbaty , H. S. +1 more | Deleted Journal

Engineering Diplomacy for Water Sustainability: From Global Indicators to Local Solutions

2025-06-16

Shafiqul Islam | Sustainability

Sustainable Development Goal 6.4 aims to improve water-use efficiency and reduce water scarcity, yet its implementation is hampered by ambiguities in definitions, limitations in metrics, and misalignments between global indicators … Sustainable Development Goal 6.4 aims to improve water-use efficiency and reduce water scarcity, yet its implementation is hampered by ambiguities in definitions, limitations in metrics, and misalignments between global indicators and local realities. This paper introduces the Engineering Diplomacy Framework (EDF) as a principled yet pragmatic approach to address these implementation challenges. Building on the Water Diplomacy Framework, EDF integrates engineering reasoning with diplomatic negotiation to reconcile quantitative indicators with contested social values and institutional complexity. We analyze SDG 6.4 using three metaphorical heuristics—“What is one plus one?”, “Where do we put the X?”, and “How do we divide 17 camels?”—to diagnose key gaps in current monitoring frameworks and uncover context-sensitive paths to action. Through comparative analysis of Singapore, Denmark, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Jordan, we show how EDF helps identify locally meaningful interventions where standardized metrics fall short. We conclude by outlining actionable steps for operationalizing EDF principles in SDG implementation, emphasizing the need to move beyond measurement toward negotiated, adaptive, and equitable solutions to achieve water sustainability goals. This manuscript introduces a novel decision-making framework—Engineering Diplomacy—that explicitly addresses ambiguity and contested values in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It offers actionable pathways toward more context-sensitive and politically feasible water governance.

The Impact of Sedimentation on the Perak River Shipping Channel on Shipyard Operations

2025-06-15

Naveed Iqbal , Intan Sianturi , Dyah Rini Ratnaningsih +1 more | RIGGS Journal of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Business

Siltation of shipping channels is a problem that can increase shipping safety and security risks and hinder economic activities. One of the causes of siltation is sedimentation, which is the … Siltation of shipping channels is a problem that can increase shipping safety and security risks and hinder economic activities. One of the causes of siltation is sedimentation, which is the process of deposition solid particles in the form of sand and rocks so that it requires regular maintenance. Especially in the Perak River shipping channel that has occurred quite significantly over the past few years and there has been no dredging until now. The occurrence of sedimentation has a great impact on the operational activities of shipyard companies located along the Perak River shipping channel. The purpose of this study is to find out what are the impacts caused by the sedimentation of the Perak River on shipyard operations. This type of research is a Quantitative research using the SPSS application. The sample of this research is an employee at the shipyard company PT. Dumas Tanjung Perak Shipyard and Pelni Surya Shipyard. In this study, a simple linear regression data analysis technique was used, then the result of the equation Y = 5.943 + 1.112X was obtained. The results of this study show that the impact of sedimentation of shipping channels has a positive and significant effect on shipyard operations. The impact of siltation such as a reduction in the number and size of vessels that can pass through the channel and also increased operational costs for shipyard companies and ship owners due to process delays when waiting for the waters to be independent in the highest tide conditions.

ELİF ŞAFAK’IN KAYIP AĞAÇLAR ADASI ROMANINDA POSTMODERN EKOLOJİYİ ÇÖZÜMLEMEK

2025-06-15

Mustafa KARABULUT , Zehra Nur Canpolat | International Journal Of Turkish Literature Culture Education

Ekoeleştiri, 1970’li yıllardan itibaren disiplinlerarası bir çevresel eleştiri hareketi olarak ortaya çıkmış ve çevre aktivizmi ile ilişkilendirilmiştir. Zamanla edebiyat alanında da doğa ile kurulan ilişkiler bağlamında önemli bir tartışma ekseni … Ekoeleştiri, 1970’li yıllardan itibaren disiplinlerarası bir çevresel eleştiri hareketi olarak ortaya çıkmış ve çevre aktivizmi ile ilişkilendirilmiştir. Zamanla edebiyat alanında da doğa ile kurulan ilişkiler bağlamında önemli bir tartışma ekseni hâline gelen bu yaklaşım, özellikle ekolojik temaların edebî metinlerde nasıl temsil edildiğini incelemektedir. Elif Şafak’ın Kayıp Ağaçlar Adası adlı romanı, postmodern anlatı teknikleriyle kurgulanmış bir iklimkurgu (climate fiction) örneği olarak ekolojik meseleleri merkeze almaktadır. Bu çalışmada, öncelikle 1974’te meydana gelen iç çatışmanın Kıbrıs Adası’nda yalnızca insan toplulukları üzerindeki değil, diğer canlı türleri ve romanın anlatıcısı konumundaki İncir Ağacı üzerindeki etkileri analiz edilecektir. Ardından romanın başat karakterlerinden Defne’nin ölümüyle şekillenen ekolojik keder ve yas kavramları ele alınacaktır. Son olarak yazarın kurguladığı çevreci estetik dil çerçevesinde, hipernesne (hyperobject) kavramı bağlamında iklim değişikliği ve ekolojik belirsizlik sorunsallaştırılacaktır.

Climate-Induced Transboundary Water Insecurity in Central Asia: Institutional Challenges, Adaptation Responses, and Future Research Directions

2025-06-15

Yerlan Issakov , Kaster Sarkytkan , Tamara Gajić +5 more | Water

This study conducts a comprehensive and systematic literature review, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, to investigate the impacts of climate change on … This study conducts a comprehensive and systematic literature review, guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol, to investigate the impacts of climate change on closed lake systems in Central Asia, with a specific focus on Lakes Balkhash, Issyk-Kul, and Urmia. Based on a detailed analysis of 74 peer-reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025, this review identifies key thematic patterns and bibliometric trends in the literature. Findings reveal that most studies emphasize hydrological stress, glacier retreat, and an increasing drought frequency, while institutional adaptation and transboundary governance mechanisms remain underdeveloped and inconsistently implemented. National-level adaptation strategies vary considerably, with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan showing a relatively higher engagement, though rarely supported by enforceable cross-border agreements. This review also highlights the limited participation of local research institutions and insufficient empirical validation of policy measures. The bibliometric analysis indicates that most high-impact publications originate outside the region, particularly from China and Germany. This study provides a structured synthesis of existing knowledge and identifies critical avenues for future research and policy development. It calls for more inclusive, transdisciplinary, and regionally embedded approaches to water governance in the context of accelerating climate risks.

Conflict Exploration for Sustainable Management of Water Development Plans in the Tigris and Euphrates Basins

2025-06-14

Mohammad Reza Zaghiyan , Majid Delavar , Saeed Morid +1 more | Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management

Impact Assessment of Natural Springs for Irrigation Potential in the Hilly Areas of Kashmir

2025-06-14

Zubair Ahmad Khan , Rohitashw Kumar , Afzal Husain Khan +3 more | Sustainability

The increasing water demand, fueled by rapid development activities, has significantly strained freshwater reservoirs. A comprehensive study was conducted in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir to determine the … The increasing water demand, fueled by rapid development activities, has significantly strained freshwater reservoirs. A comprehensive study was conducted in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir to determine the discharge rates of key water springs and assess their capacity to meet the crop water requirements within their respective command areas. The research focused on seven vital springs—Martand, Achabal, Malakhnag, Sherbagh, Verinag, Lukhbawan, and Kokernag—which are critical for domestic and agricultural purposes. The study was carried out from May to October 2018, employed the weir formula to measure spring discharge, and utilized evapotranspiration (ETo) calculations, integrating evaporation and rainfall data to estimate crop water requirements. The results revealed significant variability in spring discharge rates, with Verinag spring being the most productive at 4.55 m3/s, followed by Sherbagh at 1.97 m3/s, while Lukhbawan exhibited the lowest discharge rate at 0.17 m3/s. Springs such as Verinag, Martand, and Achabal demonstrated sufficient capacity to meet the water demands of crops in their command areas, highlighting their potential for sustainable agricultural support. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating surface–subsurface water dynamics in water resource management to ensure efficient utilization of these springs for both domestic and irrigation needs. The study provides valuable insights into optimizing spring water use to address increasing water demands in the region, contributing to sustainable development and resource conservation.

Warming threatens fragile pact over Indus River waters

2025-06-12

Shivani Pathak | Science

Scientists say India-Pakistan treaty needs to be rethought for a changing world. Scientists say India-Pakistan treaty needs to be rethought for a changing world.

Nature in India

2025-06-11

John S. Hoyland | Routledge eBooks

Conflict and the Environment: The Tragic Example of Gaza

2025-06-11

Jonathan M. Samet | American Journal of Public Health

SOLIQLARDAN BOʻYIN TOVLASHGA QARSHI KURASHISH MEXANIZMLARINI TASHKIL ETISHDA ILGʻOR XORIJIY TAJRIBALAR TAHLILI (FRANSIYA MISOLIDA)

2025-06-09

Gulinur Oymatova , Nargiza Kuziyeva | Ilgʻor iqtisodiyot va pedagogik texnologiyalar.

This article is devoted to the analysis of advanced foreign experience in organizing mechanisms to combat tax evasion on the example of France. It examines the main aspects of the … This article is devoted to the analysis of advanced foreign experience in organizing mechanisms to combat tax evasion on the example of France. It examines the main aspects of the French tax control system, including digitalization, international cooperation, risk-based approach and accountability measures. The prospects for applying this experience to national tax systems in order to increase the effectiveness of fiscal policy are studied.