Climate change, water conflicts and human security: regional assessment and policy guidelines for the Mediterranean, Middle East and Sahel

The Mediterranean, the Middle East and Sahel (MMES) are regions that are prone to extreme weather events, such as frequent droughts or floods, which are likely to be triggered by climate change and existing conflicts or tensions. The CLICO project sought to discover whether the effects of climate change in terms of water scarcity, droughts and floods in the region present a threat to human security, not least by exacerbating social tensions and intra- and inter-state conflicts. The study also considered the proposition that climate change might be a catalyst for cooperation and peace.

This report presents a comprehensive regional assessment of the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Sahel in terms of climate change impacts, vulnerabilities, conflict/cooperation and human security at various scales and in a variety of contexts. The CLICO project builds on interdisciplinary and cross-comparative research covering a variety of geographical scales and historical contexts to unravel social, political, environmental/ ecological and economic conditions in relation to the environment.