Foreign Policy Implications of Climate Change in Focus Regions of European External Action

CASCADES Research Paper March 2022

Climate change creates multiple risks for human security and sustainable development. Extreme weather events can lead to volatility in international food prices and thereby compromise the food security of import-dependent countries. Changes in rainfall and runoff can exacerbate rivalry over shared water resources in dry regions, while declining crop yields and fish stocks can compromise the livelihoods of farmers and fisherfolk. Through their impact on social relations, and political stability, all these effects can have knock-on consequences for peace and sustainable development. Many of these risks are likely to materialise in the European neighbourhood and in other countries with close ties to Europe, creating new challenges for the EU and necessitating a reconsideration of its foreign, security, and development policy.