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

United Nations 5 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 8 hours ago



The Spring Statement offered limited direction on climate policy, prompting the construction sector to focus on technology, data, and measurable progress toward sustainable building design. Carbon capture and utilisation is advancing from laboratory stages to full-scale application, transforming CO₂ into low carbon construction materials. This innovation strengthens the case for green construction by supporting whole life carbon assessment and reducing embodied carbon in materials. Clients are demanding solutions aligned with net zero whole life carbon pathways and seeking life cycle cost benefits from renewable building materials and low embodied carbon materials.

AI-driven flexibility trials demonstrated that data centres can modulate energy loads dynamically, creating opportunities for energy-efficient buildings and grid‑interactive design. This form of environmental sustainability in construction supports low carbon design and integrates heat pumps and EV charging within constrained networks. Such grid management solutions contribute directly to decarbonising the built environment and the carbon footprint reduction of infrastructure projects.

In Europe, regulatory frameworks continue to emphasise lifecycle assessment and credible sustainability reporting. Even with reduced bureaucracy, the expectation for transparent environmental product declarations (EPDs) and reliable sustainability data persists. The circular economy in construction and whole life carbon metrics have become essential elements of sustainable building practices, ensuring clarity on both environmental impact of construction and building lifecycle performance throughout procurement.

The absence of strong policy direction from Westminster is leading the market to set its own standards. Contractors adopting sustainable material specification, eco-design for buildings, and circular construction strategies achieve competitive advantage through carbon neutral construction and long-term resource efficiency in construction. Those investing early in verifiable data, BREEAM V7 certification, and net zero carbon buildings secure access to finance aligned with sustainable construction and sustainable urban development objectives. The cost of inaction is rising; the future premium lies in demonstrable commitment to low-impact construction and lifecycle performance excellence.

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