News and Insight

Despite a growing bank of evidence of the interplay between the climate crisis and conflicts, and the need to consider this intersection in climate responses, still little is actually being done. Conciliation Resources joined a network of organisations in Stockholm in May and June 2022 to make the case for peacebuilding and conflict sensitivity in climate change policy.

The complex connections between the climate crisis and conflict were explored during a recent event organised by Conciliation Resources, hosted by law firm Linklaters LLP. The lively discussion focused on the human costs of conflicts fuelled by the climate crisis, and the positive ways that those who are affected are working to respond to them.

In late June, Conciliation Resources, Transcend Oceania, and community representatives held an event in Suva, Fiji to talk to government, civil society, and international organisations on the importance of enabling communities to lead in managing their own responses to climate change. During the event, community leaders presented key recommendations for addressing the impacts of climate change in their communities, ways to manage those changes and prevent identified conflict risks.

For many South Pacific nations climate change is a reality. Rising sea levels, agricultural land increasingly contaminated by salination, and an increase in extreme weather events such as tropical cyclones, floods and droughts are creating extra pressure on communities already under strain. Existing conflicts among communities are being exacerbated. Even some of the solutions to mitigate the effects of a changing climate are making matters worse.

Nigeria is in the midst of a deep security crisis, with armed conflicts and violent crime now a problem in most parts of the country. In rural Nigeria, blame for the violence has focused on cross-border cattle herders – pastoralists whose mobile way of life is suspected of triggering conflict in different parts of the country, from north to south.

Bank accounts blocked. Financial transfers suspended so cash has to be carried in hand. Charities forced to change names to sound less “risky”. These are some of the ways some humanitarian, peacebuilding and development charities working in areas affected by conflict have been impacted by banks’ growing aversion to risk. Banks’ concerns are well-grounded: they must comply with counter-terrorism and money laundering laws. But how do we balance these concerns so that they do not hinder the critical work of peacebuilding and humanitarian NGOs?

How psychology can impact and enhance peace mediation practice was in focus at an event in London on 18 May 2022. The event was co-organised by the Swiss Embassy in London, Conciliation Resources and the Centre for Researching and Embedding Human Rights (CREHR) at Birkbeck, University of London.

How are digital tools polarising societies and fuelling violence? And how can they instead be used to build peace? These were the main questions explored at an event on 10 May 2022 organised by the Swiss Embassy in London in partnership with Conciliation Resources.

An online event was held on 27 April 2022 to mark the launch of the joint report by the Women Mediators across the Commonwealth network (WMC) and Conciliation Resources. The 'Beyond the vertical: What enables women mediators to mediate' report, contains recommendations on how to create an enabling and supportive environment for women mediators to continue their critical work.

The warming of the planet and the resulting changes to the natural environment pose numerous threats to humanity. Increased competition for resources like fertile land and fresh water is already disrupting societies and uprooting entire communities – exacerbating current conflicts and fuelling new ones. Responses to the climate crisis themselves, can add to existing tensions and create further conflict. 

Nearly two decades since the end of conflict in Liberia, women’s voices aren’t being fully heard as the country strives for truth and reconciliation. Conciliation Resources, as a partner of the Women Peace and Humanitarian Fund’s Rapid Response Window, is supporting the awarding of short-term grants to two civil society organisations - the Women’s NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) and Liberia Future Trust (LiFT) - with the aim of making the national reconciliation process more inclusive.

Our #SeeTheHuman event series focuses on the real-life experiences of those who have been on the front lines of war and who have managed to bring people together across divides to create peace.