The Vicious Cycle of Climate Change, Poverty, and Conflict

The disruption of natural systems affects us all. But in countries like South Africa,

those effects are felt more acutely. For example, climate change leads to environmental

degradation. Rising temperatures and more extreme weather events result in a loss of life

and land. This directly impacts food security, causing job losses and increasing poverty

levels. As poverty rises, access to healthcare, education, and other essential

services diminish. Poverty then fuels crime as individuals and families struggle to meet their basic

needs. Increased crime further destabilizes communities, making them less

attractive for investment, which only widens the income gap between those who can afford to leave those areas