The confluence of climate, conflict, and health

In this podcast, we explore one of 2026's key issues - the way in which climate and conflict are interacting to endanger human health. Neta Crawford, professor of international relations at the University of St Andrews has been studying how war contributes to climate change, despite the difficulty in obtaining clear information - as most military emissions are exempt from reporting under Kyoto-era rules, She explains why mandatory transparency, reduced reliance on military solutions, and a change to defense doctrines are necessary. Mohammed Aba Aji, post-doctoral research associate at Washington University argues that rising spending on the military - nearly $3 trillion and increasing for 11 years, is diverting resources from health, education, and climate adaptation. He explains why the only way to tackle this is to redefine defence away from property and infrastructure to human flourishing. Reading list War and military mobilisation are drivers of climate change Increasing defence expenditure may cost us our security Countering the arms industry as a commercial determinant of health