Climate Adaptation - A Security Risk? by Dragonfly

As the urgency to address climate change grows, it is critical to examine the broader implications of the measures being taken to mitigate its effects. While near-global consensus supports actions to reduce climate risks, the implementation of strategies such as the construction of large-scale dams and the acquisition of vast tracts of land raises concerns about their downsides. These initiatives, designed to alleviate water scarcity or offset carbon emissions, for instance, may inadvertently exacerbate the very issues they aim to resolve—displacing communities, harming ecosystems, and perpetuating power imbalances. Large infrastructure projects like dams can deepen existing social vulnerabilities and fuel conflict, while corporate land acquisitions for reforestation could undermine local livelihoods without delivering meaningful environmental benefits. Moreover, such interventions often interact with entrenched political and economic systems, marginalising vulnerable populations and potentially leading to protests or even violent resistance. For organisations tasked with analysing security and climate-related risks, it is essential to broaden the scope of their assessments to include not only the direct impacts of climate change but also the potential side effects of mitigation measures. By doing so, organisations can form a more comprehensive understanding of these interacting risks and ensure they are best prepared. This project leverages proprietary Dragonfly and curated third-party data to visualise various political and environmental risks and developments, presenting the narrative in a dynamic and impactful manner to emphasise key points.