United Nations Environment Programme
environment for development
Disasters and Conflicts
Introduction
Since the start of the new millennium, the world has witnessed over 35 major conflicts and some 2,500 disasters. Over two billion people
have been affected, and millions have lost their lives. Not only do these tragic events destroy infrastructure, cause population displacement and fundamentally
undermine human security, they also compound poverty and tear apart the fabric of sustainable development.
In addition, at least 18 violent conflicts have been fuelled by the exploitation of natural resources since 1990. As the global population
continues to rise, and demand for resources continues to grow, there is significant potential for conflicts over natural resources to intensify in the coming
decades.
Objective
To minimize environmental threats to human well-being from the environmental causes and consequences of existing and potenial natural and man-made disasters.
The consequences of climate change for water availability, food security, prevalence of disease, coastal boundaries, and population distribution may
further aggravate existing tensions and generate new conflicts.
Related Newsletters
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Largest Fire in Israel's History Consistent with Climate Change Predictions
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Pakistan's Flood of the Century is a Global Disaster
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Global Mangrove Extent Much Smaller than Previously Estimated
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Only Scraps of the South American Atlantic Forest Remain Eastern Paraguay
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