Climate change and human security: Building integrated early warning systems to increase resilience in the Sahel
When: 19 October 2022 | 13:30-15:00
Format: Panel discussion
The Sahel region is particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts on human security, particularly food security and conflict potential. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) together with local, regional and international experts from governments, academia, international organisations and development actors explore which information and forecasts are needed for comprehensive and operational early warning systems of weather, food security and conflict potential in the Sahel. The panel discussion will address how early warning systems and climate information can support policy-makers in identifying hotspots of vulnerability - both with regard to climate change and human security. We present different forecasting approaches for weather, food availability and food insecurity, which have been piloted in Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. In combination with case study evidence on conflict drivers, we derive recommendations for identifying and addressing climate-related security risks in the Sahel.
Speakers:
- Keynote presentation by Rahel Laudien, PostDoc, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
- Chris Funk, Director of the Climate Hazards Center (CHC) at UC Santa Barbara, Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET)
- Christoph Gornott, Leader of the working group Adaptation in Agricultural Systems, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Researh (PIK) and Professor, University of Kassel
- Andrew Harper, Special Advisor to the High Commissioner for Refugees on Climate Action, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Barbora Sedova, Leader of the FutureLab Security, Ethnic Conflicts and Migration, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
- Ollo Sib, Senior Researcher, Assessment and Monitoring Advisor, World Food Programme, West and Central Africa Regional Bureau (WFP)
Moderated by Sophie von Loeben, Research Analyst, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
A recording will be available soon.
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