Connecting the Dots: How the climate is shaping humanitarian emergencies
CGP were pleased to collaborate with CAFOD at Conservative Party Conference 2023 for a panel discussion, “Connecting the Dots: How the climate is shaping humanitarian emergencies.”
Panellists:
Alexander Stafford MP
Louise Abraham (CAFOD)
Resham Kotecha (Head of Policy, ODI, and Parliamentary Candidate)
Ryan Henson (CGP)
Alexander Stafford MP opened the discussion by sharing his reflections from his visit to Marsabit County, Kenya in January 2023 with the Coalition for Global Prosperity, during which he saw the devastating impact of the ongoing drought following consecutive years of failed rains. He underscored the importance of long-term, sustainable development aid in places like Kenya, where the climate is threatening and destroying livelihoods. “There needs to be a backstop ready for when those droughts come,” he said.
Resham Kotecha spoke about the role of AI in supporting climate resilience, given its ability to predict where and when there will be droughts, floods, and what migration pattern movements might look like. Google FloodHub sent out 115 million alerts to 23 million people in 2021. AI can even spot deforestation, human trafficking, and through facial recognition, can help migrants look for their lost friends and family. She also acknowledged the risks — “is it going to embed, entrench and amplify inequalities?” Consent is needed, and we need to make sure that increased carbon emissions from systems like ChatGPT are taken into account.
Louise Abraham from CAFOD stressed that UK aid cuts meant NGOs have had to step up in the region. She emphasised that local actors, rooted in communities, are key to lasting progress, given their access to infrastructure and widespread networks. She reflected on seeing pastoralists in Nairobi during the visit in January — an unprecedented development reflective of the desperation of rural communities seeking food and water security in urban areas.
All the panellists agreed upon the need for long-term financing and solutions. Resham encouraged long-term, ambitious planning from partner governments to be rewarded — incentivise sustainable action, and real progress will follow. Within the UK, she advocated for integrated departmental spending and a heightened focus on working cross-departmentally.
Alexander Stafford concluded the discussion: “The UK needs to find its niche – we can’t be everything to all people. Our strengths are good governance and long-term planning and solutions. We should lean into this so when we deliver aid it’s sustainable and its impacts are lasting.”
Watch the full discussion below.