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

UN Report Highlights Relationship Between Water and Peace (UN Water)

Freshwater consumption is growing at a steady rate, driven largely by agriculture, yet roughly 50% of the world’s population experiences severe water scarcity for at least part of the year. Poor water quality in low-income countries is attributable to low wastewater treatment, whereas in high-income countries, agricultural runoff does the damage. Extreme droughts or heavy rainfall, exacerbated by climate change, also have worsened in frequency and intensity, creating a deepening impact on global water security.

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

WMO Says 2023 Saw Record Heats (World Meteorological Organization)

In a new report, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) revealed that records for greenhouse gas levels, surface temperature, ocean heat & acidification, sea level rise, Antarctic Sea ice cover, and glacial retreat were smashed over the past year. The State of the Climate study also confirmed that 2023 was the warmest year on record, with temperatures 1.45 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. The WMO also noted that the past decade marked the warmest 10-year period on record.

The world’s water is in trouble. Freshwater pollution, coupled with climate change, population growth, and increasing demand, threatens water quality and availability. Over the last 40 years, global water usage has increased every year by around 1% to support agriculture, industrial growth, and growing populations. The strain is clear already, as 26% of the world’s population lacks access to safe drinking water, and a whopping 46% lack access to basic sanitation.

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

Climate Change Disproportionately Impacts Rural Women (U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization) 

A recent report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization analyzed data from 24 low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) across five regions and over 100 thousand rural households to measure the impacts of climate change on rural women, youth, and people living in poverty. It found that climate change’s impacts disproportionately impact households headed by women, with income losses due to extreme heat (8% income loss) and flooding (3% income loss), relative to households led by men. The income gap between men and women was also widened as a result.

Assessing Irrigation’s Impact on Pastoralists (The New Humanitarian)

In many African drylands, especially in Kenya, large-scale irrigation projects are attracting significant attention and funding. The concept of “greening the desert” has the potential to create economic opportunity and boost available resources in drought-threatened territory. However, these large-scale projects have often brought negative impacts for pastoral communities.

Progress—and Room for Improvement—in UNEP’s Annual Report (United Nations Environment Programme)

How effective is the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s work on the fight against climate change? Its Annual Report analyzed the work it has done over the past year to do so. The UNEP supports key areas in which progress has been made, including waste reduction through the Global Framework on Chemicals and global instrument on plastic pollution, biodiversity protection efforts through various frameworks, and loss and damage mobilization through COP28.

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

Food, Climate, and Conflict Nexus a Priority at the UN Security Council (Food and Agriculture Organization)

The United Nations Security Council’s High-Level Open Debate takes place in Guyana this week, and the signature event of that nation’s presidency is “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security.” Several briefers have emphasized the interconnectedness between climate change and conflict, including Secretary-General António Guterres and UNFCCC Chair Simon Stiell.

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

El Niño and Global Warming’s Shared Impact on Chile and California (New York Times)

Devastating wildfires have killed over 120 people in Chile, where a decade-long drought has created extreme fire weather conditions. While the country has experienced wildfires for years, a recent study found that unusually warm ocean temperatures created by El Niño have combined with climate-fueled droughts and heat waves to contribute to the wildfires now raging.