Abstract
Objectives: Understand whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic affects the risk of different types of conflict worldwide in the context of climate change. Methodology: Based on the database of armed conflict, COVID-19, detailed climate, and non-climate data covering the period 2020–2021, we applied Structural Equation Modeling specifically to reorganize the links between climate, COVID-19, and conflict risk. Moreover, we used the Boosted Regression Tree method to simulate conflict risk under the influence of multiple factors. Findings: The transmission risk of COVID-19 seems to decrease as the temperature rises. Additionally, COVID-19 has a substantial worldwide impact on conflict risk, albeit regional and conflict risk variations exist. Moreover, when testing a one-month lagged effect, we find consistency across regions, indicating a positive influence of COVID-19 on demonstrations (protests and riots) and a negative relationship with non-state and violent conflict risk. Conclusion: COVID-19 has a complex effect on conflict risk worldwide under climate change. Implications: Laying the theoretical foundation of how COVID-19 affects conflict risk and providing some inspiration for the implementation of relevant policies.
Original language | English |
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Article number | e17182 |
Journal | Heliyon |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 6 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 2023 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2023 The Authors
Funding
This research is supported and funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China ( 42001238 and 42201497 ), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences ( XDA19040305 ), Youth Innovation Promotion Association ( 2023000117 ), and the Wellcome Trust ( 220211 ). This study contributes to the CLICCS Cluster of Excellence funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). For the purpose of open access, the author has applied a CC BY public copyright licence to any Author Accepted Manuscript version arising from this submission.
Funders | Funder number |
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Wellcome Trust | 220211 |
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft | |
National Natural Science Foundation of China | 42001238, 42201497 |
Chinese Academy of Sciences | XDA19040305 |
Youth Innovation Promotion Association | 2023000117 |
Keywords
- Boosted regression trees
- COVID-19
- Causal link
- Conflict risk
- Structural equation model