Privately driven climate remediation efforts and conflict

Keywords: climate change, conflict, social, private sector, remediation
Abstract Type: Poster Abstract

Abstract

Geography can play a significant role in shaping the causes, dynamics, and outcomes of conflicts. Exploring the interactions between geographic factors and conflict has become particularly critical in the context of widespread ecological change. Previous scholarly work has examined the relationship between climate, geography, and conflict at different scales of analysis. Much of this work focuses on the key facets of regional geography on conflict, such as water and resource availability, and proximity to metropolitan centers, frequently observing civil war as a proxy for conflict. Additional work is needed to explore whether the same dynamics that play a role in climate change themselves affect conflict. This project addresses the question: to what degree do the actions of the private sector affect the risk of conflict in vulnerable regions?
This project uses geospatial and statistical methods to examine the relationship between privately driven climate remediation efforts, such as the implementation of low-carbon infrastructure and renewable energy facilities, and conflict. An improved understanding of the observable links between climate remediation and conflict can serve as both a warning and a guide to future inquiry.