Climate Change and Weapons Nexus in the Gulf of Guinea

Abstract

The Gulf of Guinea is facing significant challenges that have profound consequences on peace, social conflict, social cohesion, community resilience, adaptation, development, and national security due to climate change. Climate change is the driving force behind the unprecedented demand for small arms and light weapons in the Gulf of Guinea, which significantly exaggerated existing threats and their consequences, and is responsible for many serious security threats and breaches that are devastating the region. Engaging the disarmament and arms control schools’ theoretical frameworks, the study establishes that it is for the reasons to fight presented by climate change that weapons are proliferated and used in violent crimes/conflicts that have made life very precarious in the region. The study concludes that infusing peacebuilding into adaptation plans; making up-to-date information relating to coping strategies, mitigation, and weather forecasts readily available; deploying early warning and early response mechanisms, and good governance are the most auspicious and responsive responses to climate change that eliminates the need for weapons, engenders peace and community resilience in process of adapting to climate change.