On October 12 and 13, the Department of State’s Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations co-hosted with the United States Institute for Peace an interagency workshop on “Enhancing U.S. Government Approaches to Climate and Fragility.” The event brought together climate and conflict specialists from the Departments of State and Defense along with representatives from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the United States Agency for International Development, and others to discuss minimizing the impact of the climate crisis on fragile states.
The impacts of the climate crisis in vulnerable regions can lead to political instability, exploitation by non-state actors, food insecurity, economic vulnerability, and displacement and migration, among other effects. The aim of the workshop was to identify available tools and resources, establish coordinated processes, and evaluate capacity and data-related needs to operationalize climate change and fragility in policymaking and implementation.
The Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations is the U.S. coordinator of the Global Fragility Act and leads the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability.