Abstract:
Climate change-induced conflict is a major threat to human security and the environment. The future of pastoralism in relation to changing climate is discussed in this article, with a focus on scenarios of actual and projected rainfall patterns. In relation to climate variability and change, resource competition amongst pastoralist groups of land users significantly increases the risk of conflict, and the risk is greatest during times of stress. Examples of climate stressors include extended droughts and floods. Women-headed households are particularly vulnerable to insecurity and conflict because of poor customary rights to land, wells, and livestock, and lack of access to credit.