Somalilandsun: Somalia’s new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC)—the country’s roadmap for climate mitigation and adaptation—does more than outline the country’s climate ambitions. It recognizes the connections between climate change and conflict and charts a course for peace.
For more than 30 years, Somali people have grappled with violent conflict and fragmented governance. Tensions stemming from power-sharing disagreements and the influence of Al-Shabab and other armed groups have led to conflicts that have displaced millions of people and created barriers to humanitarian assistance.
Somalia is also among the seven countries most vulnerable to climate change, due in part to its geography, but also because it lacks the resources and institutions to adapt effectively. Drought and floods undermine livelihoods, escalate competition for natural resources, and fuel tensions between communities. Paired with decades of violent conflict the climate pressures on natural resources have created a feedback loop. Continue reading
