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

United Nations 9 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.
→ View Full Article

layersDaily Sustainability Digest

Published about 6 hours ago



The past quarter has marked a decisive turn for sustainable construction as regulatory and financial frameworks push towards measurable outcomes. The EU Deforestation Regulation now extends accountability across supply chains, compelling developers to verify the provenance of timber and other renewable building materials aligned with environmental sustainability in construction. The latest Environmental Performance Index exposes how far most nations remain from achieving net zero carbon and fully certifiable net zero Whole Life Carbon buildings, sharpening global focus on embodied carbon and the carbon footprint of construction.

Green finance guidance from the Green Finance Institute and WWF reinforces this transition by embedding biodiversity metrics and Whole Life Carbon Assessment into project reporting. Sustainable building design is now inextricably linked to fiduciary responsibility, with investors demanding verified lifecycle assessment data and credible environmental product declarations (EPDs). The incorporation of Life Cycle Cost appraisal and life cycle thinking in construction establishes a unified model where resource efficiency and circular construction strategies define investor confidence.

Operational resilience remains pivotal. Research on the inefficiencies of legacy financial systems underscores that decarbonising the built environment depends not only on low carbon design and low embodied carbon materials but also on digital workflows that enhance building lifecycle performance. The industry’s embrace of eco-design for buildings, Circular Economy in construction, and sustainable building practices signals a shift from aspiration to implementation.

Across markets, the environmental impact of construction and governance failures continue to test trust in green infrastructure. As scrutiny intensifies, sustainable design and carbon neutral construction are emerging as baselines rather than aspirations. The next phase of sustainable urban development will be defined by Whole Life Carbon transparency, robust BREEAM and BREEAM V7 frameworks, and quantifiable progress toward circular economy models that anchor low carbon building performance in verifiable data.

Show More

camera_altFeatured Instagram Posts:

Get your opinion heard:

Whole Life Carbon is a platform for the entire construction industry—both in the UK and internationally. We track the latest publications, debates, and events related to whole life guidance and sustainability. If you have any enquiries or opinions to share, please do get in touch.

Let's chat!
Avatar

WLC Assistant

Ask me about sustainability

Hi! I'm your Whole Life Carbon assistant. I can help you learn about sustainability, carbon assessment, and navigate our resources. How can I help you today?