Research shows natural hazards linked to climate crisis disrupted 23 elections in 18 countries in 2024
Democracy is under mounting threat from the climate crisis, with new analysis documenting how elections are increasingly shaped not only by political forces but also by floods, wildfires and extreme weather.
At least 94 elections and referendums across 52 countries have been disrupted by climate-related impacts over the last two decades, researchers found.
As risks intensify, the pressure on already fragile democratic systems – particularly in Africa and Asia – is forecast to grow.
The findings, from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an intergovernmental organisation that aims to support democracy around the world, is the first global analysis of how natural hazards are affecting elections.
