A window into what we are reading at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program

Peace and Prosperity in the Sahel: Climate Security is Key

Liptako-Gourma is a landlocked region located on the borders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. It possesses significant mineral, water, and biodiversity resources, and strategically positioned for both economic opportunities and cultural exchange.

However, Lipatko-Gourma faces challenges such as terrorism, inter-communal tensions, and the multiplying effects of climate change that might impede its progress. The region also is home to approximately 17 million people, and its population skews predominantly young. Younger populations are more likely to have high rates of political instability and economic woes. 

UNDP’s climate security efforts in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger hope to meet these challenges with a focus on building resilience, promoting nature-based solutions, and supporting adaptation initiatives to catalyze a more secure and sustainable future for the Sahel.

READ | Arms Are Not Enough: Solutions for the Sahel Must Consider Climate

India’s Growing Groundwater Crisis

India’s groundwater usage is projected to increase significantly due to climate change. Indeed, with consumption at three times the current rate, a potential depletion looms between 2041 and 2080. Groundwater is crucial for India’s farmers as well. It supplies 60% of the nation’s irrigation, but aquifers in some regions are already depleting rapidly.

Climate impacts such as increased evaporation and changes in rainfall patterns are exacerbating the groundwater problem. Shifting to less water-intensive crops and efficient irrigation techniques are some of the solutions that may be needed to mitigate India’s groundwater crisis.

READ | Groundwater Scarcity, Pollution Set India on Perilous Course

Climate Finance Takes Center Stage in Africa

The inaugural Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya held this past week was an important step toward addressing the climate crisis on the continent. While the gathering focused on a wide range of issues, its primary objective was to mobilize meaningful finance measures. That investors announced $23 billion worth of infrastructure support at the summit was a signal of its success.

Arguably the most important financial proposal to come out of the summit, was the “Nairobi Declaration”: a proposal for global reforms to international financial institutions to help fund climate change action. Notably, this plan works to mobilize financing past commitments, such as global pledges of up to $100 billion in climate financing, that have yet to be implemented.

Equity was also on the table. African leaders requested “concessional” finance—including loans at below-market interest rates and more lenient repayment timelines. “Nearly $50 billion in funding that could go toward concessional finance from the United States via multilateral development banks was pending congressional approval,” noted a U.S. treasury official at the summit.

READ | A Climate Finance Rethink Can Help Those Most Impacted by Climate Change