What Canada’s Climate Promises Should Mean in Sudan’s Ongoing Conflict

Charlie Zhu

Current ongoing armed tensions in Sudan are being made worse by climate issues. Canada’s public statements and obligations indicate that it has strong policy objectives to assist positively in Sudan, particularly in the area of climate.

ASHRAF SHAZLY/AFP/Getty Images

Context

In December 2023, during the COP28 conference, Canada pledged $16 million to support developing countries facing climate change [1]. Additionally, Canada established “fostering [...] sustainable international development[,] [...] poverty reduction in developing countries and the provision of humanitarian assistance during crises” as some of its key interests abroad [2]. This makes Canada’s pledge at COP28 a strong reaffirmation of its commitments to sustainable development overseas.

Climate, peace, and security are intertwined [3]; this is true in Sudan. Given its commitments, Canada should meaningfully assist Sudan in its climate concerns, as part of humanitarian aid. First, this blog post will give context to the situation in Sudan; then, this blog post will examine Canada’s role in assisting Sudan.

The Situation in Sudan

In 2003, armed rebellion protesting unjust distribution of economic resources in Sudan broke out in the country’s Darfur region [4]. In response, pro-government militias terrorized citizens in Darfur [5]. As a result, the International Criminal Court charged then-President al-Bashir of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide [6].

The Darfur crisis ended with a ceasefire in February 2010 [7]. However, conflict started anew in April 2019, with uprisings against national economic difficulties toppling al-Bashir [8]. This escalated into a war between the Sudan Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group [9]. With these clashes ongoing since April 2023, nearly 25 million people are now in need of humanitarian aid [10]. 

In June 2023, Global Affairs Canada vocalized its concern about “the growing humanitarian impacts of conflict and climate events in [...] Sudan” [11]. Accordingly, Canada has set up humanitarian pathways to help alleviate this conflict [12].

In addition to the armed conflict, Sudan is also facing climate issues. In October 2023, parts of Sudan experienced heavy rains and flooding [13]. Flooding is one of the recurring climate issues in Sudan. From July to November 2023, about 89,000 persons were affected by heavy rains and floods [14]. The aggregate of the issues experienced in Sudan put an estimated 15 million people at risk of acute food insecurity [15].

The combination of violence, climate concerns, and food insecurity shows why the conflict in Sudan is “deeply concerning” for the Canadian government [16]. In line with Canada’s humanitarian traditions, the government has chosen to intervene [17]. Given this context, I will examine why climate action should be a critical part of the intervention.

Canada’s Commitments Abroad, Examined

In the recent past, Canada has shown itself capable to contribute to sustainable development in East Africa. Ethiopia recently suffered from political instability and droughts [18]. Yet Canadian aid in Ethiopia between 2013–2020 showed a “strong alignment between Canada’s international assistance and the priorities of Ethiopia” [19]. Canadian assistance in Ethiopia was effective in areas including: supporting smallholder farmers; supporting vulnerable people in food-insecure districts; contributing improvements to the health of women and children; and contributing to new businesses and employment [20]. This is but an example of Canada’s effective contributions abroad.

Canada also contends its contributions to sustainable development have a climate-oriented focus. As a member of the G7 2030 Nature Compact, Canada pledged itself to “Protecting, Conserving, and Restoring Nature” for all [21]. This pledge provides Canada with guidance for future actions. 

All of this points to what Canada ought to do in Sudan. Even more pertinent is the fact that Canada and Sudan have a General Agreement treaty. Signed in 1979, the two countries have expressed a shared “desire to develop a programme of development co-operation" [22]. This further emphasises Canada’s support for sustainable development and poverty reduction in Sudan, especially considering the ongoing conflict and climate issues there.

Canada’s climate commitment must be contextualized to Sudan’s needs. Climate vulnerability is tied to exposure to the climate-related biophysical world, socio-economic sensitivity, and the capability to adapt to climate change [23]. Canada has publicly stated it supports climate action in developing nations [24]. This indicates potential meaningful climate action in Sudan, especially as “Sudan is severely exposed to climate change” [25]. Sudan has climate needs; Canada has expressed its resolve to provide climate aid where needed: thus Canada should act.

However, there are two points of nuance. First, while the armed conflict in Sudan is severely affecting human life, the climate crisis cannot be ignored. Canada ought not focus solely on one at the expense of the other. Second, Canada’s promises need to be critically assessed. Despite Canada’s aid in Ethiopia during 2013-2020 being successful in certain areas of sustainable development, one area found lacking was climate. Upon self-reflection, Canada realized it showed limited programming in environment and climate action overall [26]. This comes despite Ethiopia’s vulnerability to climate change [27]. Both Canada’s statements at COP28 and its Nature Compact commitments should lead its international assistance to materially include climate change programming. Canada realized its lack in its assistance in Ethiopia. As for Sudan, Canada has yet a chance to assist meaningfully with climate.

Conclusion

The conflict in Sudan deserves Canada’s positive action, especially in climate-related assistance. Canada has made strong policy commitments on climate, which has the potential to play out meaningfully while assisting Sudan. Canada ought faithfully to live up to its expectation.

Charlie Zhu is a 1L student at McGill Law pursuing a BCL/JD dual degree. He has a BASc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of British Columbia (Vancouver). He is interested in combining his understanding of sustainability from a STEM background with his current pursuit in law. He would also like to acknowledge the contributions of Navya Baradi, Allison Bender, Ella Johnson, and Sofia Watt Sjöström in drafting this blog post.

[1] Environment and Climate Change Canada, News Release, “As a first move at COP28, Canada announces support for developing countries to address loss and damage due to climate change” (1 December 2023), online: <canada.ca> [perma.cc/7X5M-7UZK].

[2] Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Act, SC 2013, s 10(3)(b).

[3] Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, Peace, Climate and Security Fact Sheet: Sudan, Cedric De Coning et al, eds (Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2022) at 2.

[4] “Explainer: How Darfur became a ‘humanitarian calamity and catastrophic human rights crisis’”, UN News (14 December 2023), online: <un.org> [perma.cc/J3J5-DJCA].

[5] Robert O Collins et al, “Sudan” (10 March 2024), online: <britannica.com> [perma.cc/4955-KGPE].

[6] Ibid.

[7] “Timeline: Darfur Crisis”, Al Jazeera (23 February 2010), online: <aljazeera.com> [perma.cc/GF3Z-G5JK].

[8] Dirdeiry M Ahmed, “The war in Sudan is a consequence of a derailed transition”, Al Jazeera (29 October 2023), online: <aljazeera.com> [perma.cc/U6D2-KVKC].

[9] Ibid.

[10] “Crisis in Sudan: What is happening and how to help”, International Rescue Committee (4 January 2024), online: <rescue.org> [perma.cc/XTU2-DYFK].

[11] Global Affairs Canada, News Release, “Canada announces matching fund for East Africa: Conflict, Climate and Hunger” (6 June 2023), online: <canada.ca> [perma.cc/G2CT-B3LK].

[12] Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, “Canada to launch humanitarian pathway for people affected by the conflict in Sudan” (28 December 2023), online: <canada.ca> [perma.cc/J4U7-H4EE].

[13] Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Sudan Situation Report, 2 November 2023 (New York: United Nations, 2023).

[14] Ibid.

[15] Ibid.

[16] Supra note 12.

[17] Ibid.

[18] International Assistance Evaluation Division, Evaluation of International Assistance Programming in Ethiopia 2013-14 to 2019-20 (Ottawa: Global Affairs Canada, 2021).

[19] Ibid.

[20] Ibid.

[21] G7, Declaration Statement, “G7 2030 Nature Compact” (13 June 2021), online: <international.gc.ca> [perma.cc/S5BN-WBUV].

[22] General Agreement Between the Government of Canada and the Government of the Democratic Republic of Sudan Concerning Development Co-operation, Canada and Sudan, 16 September 1979, E101192.

[23] Supra note 3.

[24] Government of Canada, “Canada’s climate finance for developing countries” (28 November 2023), online: <international.gc.ca> [perma.cc/2DGZ-NKSU].

[25] Supra note 3 at 1.

[26] Supra note 19.

[27] Ibid.