A recent report from the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) warns that the number of people living in countries facing serious ecological threats is expected to increase from the current 1.8 billion to 2.8 billion by 2050. These worrying findings come as a result of increasing environmental challenges and climate-related events.
Hotspot in sub-Saharan Africa
- The IEP’s Ecological Threats Report 2023 highlights that more than half of the countries facing serious threats are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. The report assesses global ecological threats and pinpoints countries and regions most susceptible to conflict, civil unrest and displacement due to environmental degradation.
Scope of the study
- Covering 221 countries and independent territories, the report covers 3,594 sub-national regions, covering almost the entire global population. Of these regions, 66 countries currently face at least one serious ecological threat.
Growing concerns
- The number of countries facing serious ecological threats and limited social resilience has increased from 27 to 30 last year, the report shows. Sub-Saharan Africa stands out as a region of particularly high ecological threats.
hotspot nation
- Of the 30 countries identified as hotspots for serious ecological threats and low social resilience, 19 are located in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethiopia, Niger, Somalia and South Sudan are considered the most vulnerable, with Ethiopia and Niger emerging as new hotspots.
- The report also includes Myanmar in the list of countries facing increasing ecological threats. Areas of relative security.