Populations affected by armed conflict are often exposed to and severely impacted by climate-related disasters. To adequately protect these populations, early warning and early action (EWEA) services need to adapt to disruptions such as destruction, decay of infrastructure, and weak national capacities.

In a new paper published in Environmental Research Letters, Feinstein Research Director Erin Coughlan de Perez, Senior Researcher Evan Easton-Calabria, and co-authors examine the state of knowledge of EWEA in countries affected by armed conflict and high levels of forced displacement.

The literature review of 384 papers from 2004 to 2022 found that most EWEA research focuses on climate science rather than social science.

The authors also found that although there has been a strong increase in academic research on EWEA in conflict-affected countries since 2004, there is relatively little research focused on countries other than Ethiopia, Pakistan, and Nigeria.

To enhance evidence-based decision making and contribute to effective EWEA interventions, the authors recommend putting people affected by conflict at the center of research design when studying EWEA.

Read the open-access paper.