Climate change may increase conflict deaths, says IMF

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🗞️ Driving the news: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported that climate change is set to intensify conflicts in fragile and war-torn states
• The World Bank's list currently classifies 39 countries as "fragile and conflict-afflicted states," with 21 located in Africa
• The report revealed that while climate shocks intensify existing unrest and compound other vulnerabilities like hunger and poverty

🔭 The context: Despite growing evidence of climate change's adverse effects, political will for decisive action seems to be waning due to economic concerns
• Fragile nations, particularly in Africa, are demanding more financial assistance from richer countries for adaptation and green energy transition
• The IMF predicts that conflict-related deaths in fragile states could rise by almost 10% by 2060

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: As climate change escalates, the repercussions will not be limited to environmental factors but will permeate societal structures, escalating conflicts, and endangering lives

⏭️ What's next: African leaders are uniting to establish a cohesive stance on climate negotiations
• The African Climate Summit, scheduled from Sept. 4-6, aims to align African countries before the COP28 UN climate summit in the United Arab Emirates in late November

📈 One stat: The IMF projects that climate change could thrust 50 million more people in fragile states into hunger by the year 2060.

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