Water conflicts under climate change: Research gaps and priorities

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Conflict Studies
• Water Resource Management

Background:

• Climate change is a known driver of conflict, yet its interplay with water scarcity and socio-economic factors in conflict escalation is under-researched.
• Understanding the climate-water-conflict nexus is crucial for developing effective mitigation and adaptation strategies.
• Existing research often overlooks diverse regional contexts and conflict typologies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of research on the climate-water-conflict nexus.
• To identify research gaps and analyze factors influencing water-related conflicts across different regions and conflict types.
• To inform future research priorities and policy interventions.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review methodology was employed to systematically examine existing literature.
• Semi-automatic text mining approaches were utilized for analyzing themes and conflict factors.
• Geographical and conflict type categorizations were used to identify patterns and disparities.

Main Results:

• Research predominantly focuses on Asia and Africa, with limited exploration of other regions.
• Governance and livelihoods are identified as significant global factors in water-related conflict responses.
• Regional variations exist, such as farmer-herder conflicts in Africa versus agriculture-focused governance issues in Asia.

Conclusions:

• Future research must broaden its scope to include underrepresented regions and conflict types, particularly those vulnerable to hydroclimatic changes.
• Increased focus on cooperation and non-violent conflict dynamics is essential for a comprehensive understanding.
• Addressing the climate-water-conflict nexus requires integrated approaches considering governance, livelihoods, and regional specificities.