Report reveals South Sudan vulnerable to climate change
Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) have released a report saying South Sudan is highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
The reports stated that the gradual increase in temperatures and short-term extreme climate events could have indirect and interlinked implications for peace and security in South Sudan.
The fact sheet released on March 17, 2022, under the Climate-related Peace and Security Risks project, jointly undertaken by the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) states that the recent flooding in South Sudan is the worst in over 60 years and is highly vulnerable to climate change.
It said that South Sudan is experiencing the effects of long-term climate change, such as increased temperatures and precipitation changes, as well as short-term changes, like more frequent droughts and floods.
“Such changes may intensify the risk of tensions between herders and farmers, often in connection with the land, grazing, water, and communal affairs.”
It further highlighted that climate change has contributed to transhumant, including cross-border migration from Sudan through the Greater Upper Nile in particular, which exacerbates the spread of veterinary diseases and fuels environmental degradation and competition over scarce resources.
Climate-related livestock losses, combined with pre-existing rivalries, raise the risk of cattle raiding, which can lead to retaliation, communal conflict, displacement, deepening inter-communal rivalry, and the formation of armed groups, according to the report.
The fact sheet added that ongoing conflict, governance deficits, insufficient resources, knowledge gaps and low technical expertise and capacity have weakened the ability of the Revitalized Transitional Government of National Unity of South Sudan (R-TGoNU) to integrate climate-related security risks into its efforts to manage communal and natural resource conflicts, as well as conflicts over land ownership and rights.
The report recommends that the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) continue to invest in knowledge and expertise in the areas of climate, peace and security, and strengthen the R-TGoNU’s capacity to adapt to climate change and integrate climate-related security risks into its early warning, prevention, and mitigation and preparedness efforts.
It further said the government should strengthen its analytical capacity by bringing together relevant stakeholders and partners to produce regular reviews of climate-related security risks. These reviews should integrate and analyse data on climate, conflict, migration (including transhumance patterns and routes) and food security.
“Reviews should pay special attention to the needs of women, girls and female-headed households. Assessments could feed into the annual South Sudan State of the Environment Report and future National Adaption Plans for Climate Change, “it stressed.
“To enhance the ability of the R-TGoNU to prevent and manage climate-related security risks, the United Nations (UN) should support South Sudan’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry to maintain, upgrade, and establish new weather stations throughout the country, and build capacity for storing and analysing weather data in collaboration with the University of Juba or other research and knowledge institutions.”
The report further called on the UN Secretary-General to ensure that all UN personnel in South Sudan have adequate training for assessing and responding to climate-related security risks, especially in joint assessments, integrated analysis and planning, supporting analysis of and responses to the gendered effects of climate change, and preventing and resolving communal transhumance related conflicts.
