Odoemene, Akachi --- "Climate change and land grabbing" [2017] ELECD 514; in Angelo, Jane Mary; Du Plesis, Anél (eds), "Research Handbook on Climate Change and Agricultural Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2017) 423

Book Title: Research Handbook on Climate Change and Agricultural Law

Editor(s): Angelo, Jane Mary; Du Plesis, Anél

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781784710637

Section: Chapter 15

Section Title: Climate change and land grabbing

Author(s): Odoemene, Akachi

Number of pages: 26

Abstract/Description:

Climate change and land grabbing are tightly interconnected in ways that are both diverse and complex. They have impacted each other in significant ways too. Both phenomena are not only a political reality, but have diverse dire implications, especially for food and livelihood security of vulnerable populations in developing economies. The critical nexus and interactions of climate change and land grabbing remain one of the challenges of sustainable development in modern times. The nuanced understanding of the nexus, importance and implications of climate change and land grabbing are the primary focus of this chapter. It begins with conceptual clarifications, particularly arguing that the absence of some important principles of engagement underline and define a land grab. It also analyses and notes a good number of contemporary land deals as ‘one-sided’, in which wealthy entities connive with local elites to exploit and dispossess rural poor populations. The chapter not only examines both global and local factors that drive land grabbing and, in some cases, their connection with the incidence of climate change, but also explores their crucial links with such sectors as agriculture. The reasons why certain societies are susceptible to the incidence of climate change and land grabbing are enumerated, while the overall consequences of these phenomena on the affected societies are further examined. The chapter concludes that the lack of political will by global political leaders to effectively combat and resolve critical issues associated with both climate change and land grabbing remains a daunting challenge. It notes that these phenomena – climate change and land grabbing – if not abated, will certainly become another set of global tragic episodes to be regretted in the future. Key Words: climate change, land grabbing, wealth and elite exploitation, agriculture, vulnerable populations, and developing economies