Integrated assessment of climate-related security risks for peace and security in Blue Nile, Sudan, and their gender dimensions

United Nations 3 months ago

The Blue Nile State in Sudan is grappling with a severe and escalating crisis, marked by an intensifying conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. This conflict has displaced 8.7 million people, including 4.6 million children by December 2024, with 336,710 seeking refuge in Blue Nile State. This situation has exacerbated existing intercommunal tensions and complicated the management of natural resources, which are already under strain from climate change impacts. The report recommends six strategic actions to tackle the immediate and long-term challenges in Blue Nile State: Contribute to stabilization and build foundations for longer-term peacebuilding: This involves facilitating community-based peace dialogues, supporting local peace committees, and ensuring climate-sensitive humanitarian efforts to address the dynamic conflict. Promote Climate-Smart Livelihoods: Focus on sustainable, community-driven, and scientifically informed livelihood initiatives, specifically targeting women, IDPs, and other marginalized groups. Strengthen Community-Based Conservation: Support the protection, conservation, and restoration of natural ecosystems through inclusive, community-led efforts that respect local and indigenous knowledge. Establish Inclusive Governance for Natural Resources: Create governance structures that integrate the voices and leadership of all community members, especially those typically excluded, to ensure equitable resource management and conflict prevention. Enhance Protections Against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV): Implement comprehensive measures to address SGBV within resource-dependent roles, improving legal awareness, safety infrastructure, and effective response systems. Foster Transboundary Environmental Cooperation: Promote collaboration with neighboring countries on the sustainable management of shared ecosystems, which is crucial for regional peace and environmental stability. These recommendations aim to establish a robust framework that not only navigates the current crisis but also paves the way for sustainable peace and development, aligning local efforts with broader regional and international goals for resilience and conflict resolution.
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layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 7 hours ago



Global energy policy uncertainty is testing the resilience of sustainable construction, but the momentum for low‑carbon building remains clear. Reduced US funding for international renewable agencies will narrow some channels of early‑stage technical support, intensifying scrutiny on every project’s whole life carbon profile and life cycle cost performance. Investors and developers are focusing on sustainable building design that evidences real data through lifecycle assessment and whole life carbon assessment rather than narrative claims.

Across the sector, automation and industrialised delivery are changing skill demands. Factory fabrication and digital commissioning highlight a shift toward smarter, resource‑efficient construction systems aligned with environmental sustainability in construction targets. The circular economy in construction is gaining relevance as firms explore low embodied carbon materials, renewable building materials and end‑of‑life reuse in construction to minimise the overall carbon footprint of construction.

The launch of a major retailer’s highly energy‑efficient distribution centre in South West England illustrates practical decarbonising of logistics real estate. Integrating on‑site generation, electrified fleets and grid‑aware systems demonstrates sustainable building practices that actively reduce embodied carbon in materials and support net zero carbon buildings. These data‑driven facilities embody eco‑design for buildings and sustainable material specification that prove measurable carbon footprint reduction while improving building lifecycle performance.

Market dynamics are rewarding operational emissions cuts today. As cost of capital fluctuates, demand is growing for developers who can deliver whole life carbon neutrality through circular construction strategies, BREEAM and BREEAM V7 certification, and low carbon design excellence. Firms embracing sustainable design, green construction and carbon neutral construction methods are best placed to shape a built environment advancing towards net zero whole life carbon resilience.

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