Water shocks, global consequences: Cascading risks in a changing climate
When: Tuesday 06 October 2026 | 15:50 - 16:50
Format: Breakout session
Hosted by: Chatham House
Climate change is increasing water stress across regions, but the security implications of water scarcity do not stop at national borders. In an interconnected global economy, droughts and other water-related shocks can cascade through food and commodity markets, supply chains, energy systems, migration and displacement, and political instability, creating risks for countries that may not themselves face acute water stress. These indirect and third-country impacts remain poorly understood and are often absent from conventional climate-security risk assessments.
This session will explore how water shocks travel across borders and when local water insecurity becomes a wider security concern. Drawing on contrasting cases and transmission pathways, participants will examine how governments and international institutions can identify hidden dependencies, anticipate cascading risks and strengthen resilience before shocks escalate.
The goal is to develop practical recommendations for integrating water-related cascading risks into climate-security early warning, risk assessment and foreign policy, including approaches to identifying exposed sectors and third countries, strengthening anticipatory action, and improving international cooperation.
The session will conclude with a small set of action-oriented recommendations for governments and international organisations on how to better anticipate, manage and mitigate the security consequences of water shocks beyond their immediate geography.
Speakers:
- Malak Altaeb, Senior Expert, Sustainable Resource Management and Climate Resilience at Climate and Water Initiative
- Chartiy Watson, Climate, Peace and Security Advisor for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan.
Moderated by Beatrice Mosello, Senior Research Fellow Chatham House
Return to the BCSC 2026 Agenda.