Climate patterns may shape where violent conflict risks are amplified

Climate patterns may shape where violent conflict risks are amplified

A new Rice University study is shedding light on a long-debated question: Can climate variability influence the risk of armed conflict? The answer, researchers say, is yes—but in more nuanced and region-specific ways than previously understood.

Some Climate Shocks Can Increase the Likelihood of War

Researchers warn against oversimplifying climate change’s role in conflicts. But some conditions can increase the likelihood of violence, a new study finds.

Climate Extremes and Drought Push Vulnerable Regions Toward Armed Conflict, New Study Reveals

A comprehensive new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides compelling evidence that extreme weather events significantly increase the risk of armed conflict in vulnerable regions around the world. Researchers analyzed detailed climate and conflict data spanning over seven decades, from 1950 to 2023, to uncover clear patterns linking environmental stress to violence. The research identifies drought as a pa…