Background: Climate change has the power to both drive and exacerbate conflict. When already fragile communities experience floods, droughts and unpredictable weather patterns, it is harder for them to build sustainable livelihoods. Climate change contributes to food insecurity, economic instability, and migration, all of which increase the risk of violence. 

Currently, 3.6 billion people, 44% of the world’s population, live in communities vulnerable to the devastating effects of global warming. Experts predict one third of those vulnerable, or about 1.2 billion people, will be displaced by 2050.  

A recent study by the World Resource Institute shows that every $1 spent on climate adaptation creates more than $10 in benefits and savings for health, disaster management, and agricultural sectors. Supporting U.S. foreign assistance that helps communities adapt to climate change, build resiliency and mitigate the impacts of climate change promotes both greater wellbeing and a more peaceful world.

Faith Reflection: God calls us to love one another and care for God’s creation. We do this by building peace, working for justice, and living compassionately with our neighbors, near and far. Taking action to care for the Earth, our common home, is one way to express gratitude for God’s creation while also creating a more equitable, sustainable future for all of God’s people. “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” Zachariah 7:9 (NIV) 

Action: Urge your members of Congress to robustly fund climate resiliency initiatives in the FY26 federal budget. 

For more resources on climate change and peace, visit ClimateActionForPeace.com