CLIMATE CHANGE AND CONFLICTS
Climate change mitigation is the most important issue for young people for them to be able to live well in Finland in 2050. Youth concerns about the matter have increased dramatically. Climate change is not located in the future; it is happening now. Unless we act quickly, the global average temperature will rise by 3-4 degrees by the end of the century compared to pre-industrial times. This would jeopardise the whole of human civilisation.
Climate change affects societies in many ways. The countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change are often also prone to conflict and are otherwise fragile. Climate change is a factor that can exacerbate the tensions existing beneath the surface in society. Dialogue and adaptation are needed to prevent climate change leading to violent conflicts.
The exercises in this package tackle the relationship between climate change and conflict at different levels. The point is to respond to the concerns of young people and the questions they face about the relationship between climate change and conflict, while at the same time inspiring them to take action.
The exercises are downloadable as PDF files.