The doom loop of conflict and unsustainability: Exploring cause and effect

Summary, in English

The relationship between sustainability and conflict is complex and often hard to define, yet the consequences of interaction can be catastrophic. Unsustainable practices and their consequences for the environment can contribute to conflict. War—and the energy and resource costs of preparing for war—can also have terrible impacts on the environment. In this Voices, we ask how sustainability and environmental crises can drive conflict and vice versa.

• Author: Lina Eklund; Oleksandra Shumilova; Julia Loginova; Florian Krampe; Christene Halvorson; Aula Abbara; Paul B. Spiegel
• Department/s: BECC: Biodiversity and Ecosystem services in a Changing Climate; MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World; Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES); Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science; LU Profile Area: Human rights
• Publishing year: 2025
• Language: English
• Publication/Series: One Earth
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 9
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2025.101456
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Cell Press
• Topic: Physical Geography; Social and Economic Geography
• Status: Published
• Project: ECO-Syria: Exploring Conflict-Environment Interactions for Sustainable Development and Conservation; Societal impacts of climate stress: An integrated assessment of drought, vulnerability and conflict in Syria
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 2590-3330