Summary

Climate change is leading to major limitations in the functioning of communities. This is expected to cause major changes in migration patterns. Especially the global south is experiencing a growing number of environmental hazards and sudden onset disasters like floods, hurricanes, wildfires, heat waves and droughts that are forecasted to alter life of communities. Livelihoods, food security, health and social systems are in jeopardy. Imbalances and inequalities are expected to manifest locally and globally, politically and economically, socially and culturally. The consequences emphasize the growing importance to view adaptations to climate change through an environmental peacebuilding lens.

This article explores the synergies between community-based adaptation to climate change and environmental peacebuilding actions. Specific characteristics of both concepts and commonalities of activities at the grassroots level are illustrated, the potential for a merger is described and outcomes of such an approach on several levels are anticipated. The methodology will use literature review, substantiated by practical examples from the field.

The topic of this article will be presented by Hudara at the International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding in October 2019 in Irvine, California, USA.