According to Agathe Sarfati, six out of ten UN missions are currently deployed in areas severely affected by the climate crisis. Extreme weather events—such as droughts and floods— can affect civilian populations already weakened by armed conflicts. They can also destabilise the work of uniformed personnel in peace operations and transform the conditions under which they operate. Building on these observations, the Boutros-Ghali Observatory on Peacekeeping organised a seminar in May 2025 entitled Integrating Environmental Issues into Peacekeeping Operations: Anticipating Crises, Curbing Emissions and Planning for Sustainability. This paper aims to expand upon the discussions held during that event.
First, this research note examines the effects of climate change on the logistical and human capacities of peacekeeping operations. The increased frequency of extreme weather phenomena due to climate change represents a significant constraint for UN troops. Floods, storms and heatwaves render transport arduous, dangerous, or impossible. Equipment is tested to its limits and may become inoperative. Natural disasters also threaten the operationality of bases, particularly regarding energy supplies. Furthermore, climate change diminishes missions’ human resources by impacting personnel’s health, exposing them to risks of dehydration, heat stroke, and parasitic and waterborne diseases.
Second, the paper demonstrates how climate change complicates the implementation of mission mandates, beginning with the protection of civilians—the very core of peace operations. Indeed, phenomena linked to climate degradation increase civilian populations’ dependence upon humanitarian assistance and overexpose them to violence. Finally, climate change undermines the peacebuilding efforts that host states and UN missions undertake jointly. Consequently, climate change reduces peace missions’ material and human capacity to fulfil their mandates while simultaneously increasing their workload.
This content was originally published in French in February 2026. Please see Les effets des changements climatiques sur les opérations de maintien de la paix – Vers une adaptation nécessaire
Anne Nguyen est chargée de recherche au sein du GRIP. Elle est détentrice d’un Master en Relations Internationales – sécurité, paix et conflits à l’Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) et d’un Doctorat en sciences politiques de l’ULB. Ses domaines d’expertise sont les études de paix, les problématiques post-conflit et les questions environnementales liées à la conduite de la guerre.