By The North Journals
As Africa grapples with worsening climate threats and escalating natural resource conflicts, a compelling new study underscores a fundamental truth: environmental sustainability cannot thrive without peace.
In a rigorously argued paper titled “Does Environmental Good Depend on Peace?”, Cameroonian researcher Trésor Daniel Mefire draws a direct connection between peace and environmental protection. He writes, “Peace is a prerequisite for environmental sustainability,” noting that in conflict zones, ecosystems collapse under the weight of unregulated resource exploitation, pollution, and governance failure.
The report cites the United Nations’ finding that over 170 armed conflicts displaced 120 million people in 2023 alone, leaving behind scorched forests, poisoned rivers, and vanishing biodiversity. “Environmental degradation is not just a byproduct of war—it is a casualty,” Mefire argues.
Africa’s Vicious Cycle: Climate, Conflict, and Collapse
In the African context, the stakes are especially high. Climate change is deepening droughts, shrinking water sources like Lake Chad by as much as 90% since the 1960s, and intensifying competition over land and water. This, in turn, fuels violent confrontations and displaces millions.
Mefire notes that the Sahel region is warming 1.5 times faster than the global average, exacerbating scarcity and social unrest. “Environmental degradation and conflict feed each other,” he explains, “creating cycles of ecological and social harm.”
Institutions such as the African Union and ECOWAS are increasingly advocating for peacebuilding strategies that include environmental considerations, recognizing that restoring ecosystems can help stabilize communities.
One such success is the African Union’s Great Green Wall initiative, which simultaneously combats desertification and strengthens livelihoods across the Sahel. It reflects a growing understanding that “peace and environmental stewardship must go hand in hand,” Mefire writes.
Cameroon: A Nation at a Crossroads
In his home country of Cameroon, Mefire provides a case study in how conflict obstructs environmental protection. The ongoing Anglophone crisis has crippled conservation efforts, leading to illegal logging, poaching, and massive forest loss.
Between 2002 and 2024, Cameroon lost over a million hectares of its primary forest—almost half of its total tree cover loss—mainly due to agriculture, logging, and infrastructure development. Conflict has only worsened the situation by weakening enforcement and opening the door to unchecked exploitation.
Yet, signs of hope are emerging. In the Far North, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has facilitated peace initiatives that blend humanitarian aid with environmental governance. Local forest management efforts, supported by community dialogue and mediation, have begun to reduce tensions and restore degraded land.
“Where peacebuilding efforts take root, sustainable development follows,” Mefire emphasizes.
The Global Message: No Climate Action Without Stability
The paper also references how global institutions like the UN Environment Programme and the UN Security Council now recognize climate change as a threat multiplier. According to the United Nations Development Programme, 40% of intrastate conflicts over the past 60 years were linked to natural resources—and such conflicts are twice as likely to recur if peace efforts fail to address environmental causes.
“Peace facilitates regulatory enforcement, investment in restoration, and climate adaptation,” Mefire states, pointing to the Paris Agreement’s more successful implementation in politically stable regions.
A Call to Action
Mefire concludes with a sobering but constructive message: peace is not a luxury—it’s the foundation upon which sustainable development must be built.
He calls on policymakers to embed peacebuilding into environmental and development strategies, using frameworks like the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (particularly SDGs 15 and 16) to guide action.
“By addressing the root causes of both conflict and environmental harm,” he writes, “the international community can build a more sustainable and peaceful future.”
Find the report here and read more PDF Does Environmental Good Depend on Peace
