A window into what we are reading at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program

In Conflict-Affected Somalia, Climate Change Adds to Migration Pressures

In the Somalian coastal town of Hobyo, thousands of residents—some of whom settled there to flee the country’s civil war—are starting to leave. Why? Their homes are being engulfed by sand.

Hussein Karshe initially moved to Hobyo seeking refuge from Somalia’s decades-long conflict. Now, heavy sandstorms are forcing him to relocate again after 20 years. And the sand is impacting more than just houses. In March, sand dunes in another town blocked wells—triggering water shortages—and prevented food deliveries.

Intensifying drought and deforestation are major contributors to desertification in Somalia, a country responsible for only 0.08 percent of global emissions. The Somalian government’s response has included measures to tackle erosion and coastal degradation, including the Green Somalia initiative to plant 30,000 trees.

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The Triple Promise of Restoring Nature: Boosting Food Security, Ecosystems, and Economies

Unsustainable land use is rapidly degrading landscapes and marine ecosystems around the world—with significant implications for biodiversity, food security, and the global economy.  Forty percent of people in the world are impacted by degraded land.

According to UNEP, land degradation could reduce global food productivity by 12 percent within less than 10 years, driving up food prices. Erosion is already linked to an average of 1.25 billion euros in lost European agricultural productivity every year.

Reversing that trend and restoring ecosystems can yield dividends for people and nature—especially when $1 of investment in restoration produces $30 in economic benefits. Supporting native pollinator populations and diversifying crops helps prevent biodiversity loss and makes agricultural systems both more productive and more climate-resilient. And farming practices to restore soil fertility not only improve food security but also support peace.

READ | To Fight for a Living Planet, Restore its Biology

Developing countries face major gaps in clean energy investments

A new report by the UN Conference on Trade and Development reveals that renewable energy investments in developing countries are nearly two trillion dollars short of where they need to be to meet 2030 international climate goals. 

Renewable investments at large have seen a sharp increase since the Paris Agreement, but many poorer nations haven’t benefited. And a confluence of crises—war in Ukraine, soaring energy prices, and growing debt burden—means that foreign direct investment in these places is also declining.

The UNCTAD report calls for policies to spur private investment in developing countries (like debt relief) and lower the up-front costs for energy investments. 

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