Antonio Sampayo: Climate shocks create resource shortages in cities

Climate shocks undermine access to food and water, provoking sharp price increases in cities and allowing criminal groups to seize control of scarce resources, Antonio Sampayo, Advisor at the UN Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), said at the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, Report informs.

According to him, destabilization occurs along two main directions. The first is political instability caused by resource scarcity.

"Climate shocks weaken food systems, access to water, and livelihoods, which in a short time can trigger price hikes, public discontent, protests, unrest, and intercommunal tensions in cities," the expert said.

Sampayo added that the second direction is the capture of control over water, land, and basic services: "As resources become more valuable and limited, armed groups, organized crime networks, and corrupt actors exploit this shortage, turning it into an instrument of power and pressure," Sampayo added.