David Miliband, president and CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC), has sounded the alarm about the growing threats posed by both conflict and the climate crisis. He argues that these challenges are breaking records and demand immediate global action. Miliband stressed that the world's most vulnerable populations are being let down by the current international system, which is failing to provide the support they urgently need. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) week, traditionally a time for global unity, is instead marked by division and a lack of coordinated response. According to Miliband, the areas most at risk from climate change are increasingly the same regions affected by conflict and extreme instability. These people have contributed the least to climate change but are suffering the most. They also receive the least support for adapting to climate impacts. In fact, 860 million people—nearly all living in countries affected by conflict—reside in nations that are among the most vulnerable to climate change. By 2030, climate-related shocks are expected to push over 130 million people into extreme poverty, with 60 percent of the world’s poorest people living in fragile states and war zones. These conflict-affected regions face significant challenges, including weak institutions, divided land, and large-scale displacement. Agriculture, which is a major part of their economies, is highly vulnerable to climate change. With rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and dry soil, crop yields decline, livestock suffers, and household incomes fall. This leads to higher food prices, forced sales of assets, and children being pulled out of school. As water sources dry up, malnutrition and unsafe water become widespread, further pushing people to migrate. Each of these challenges weakens the ability of communities to cope with future shocks. While climate change does not directly cause wars, it creates conditions that can increase the likelihood of conflict. It affects agriculture, intensifies competition for land and water, and alters migration patterns—factors that can fuel tensions. Conversely, conflict makes communities more vulnerable to climate change by destroying local economies and infrastructure. Somalia provides a stark example: recent years have seen droughts and floods leading to thousands of excess deaths and massive displacement. In such environments, armed groups often control critical resources like water, further complicating humanitarian efforts. Despite the urgent need for support, countries most affected by climate change and conflict receive the least adaptation funding. The international system is not only failing to meet the UN Secretary-General’s goal of directing 50 percent of climate finance to adaptation, but also the funds that do exist are not reaching the poorest regions. Current data shows that less than $3 per person per year is spent on climate adaptation in high-intensity conflict zones—far less than the average in least developed countries. To address this, Miliband emphasizes the need for pre-emptive action, shifting the traditional climate finance model, and directing more funds to the most vulnerable communities. He highlights the importance of parametric insurance, debt swaps, and supporting local private sector activity in conflict-affected areas. The IRC is already implementing initiatives like solar-powered water systems in Somalia and Kenya, reducing costs and improving resilience. With the upcoming COP31 summit in Türkiye, global leaders have another chance to make climate finance more accessible and effective in fragile countries. The time for action is now, not just for words at global meetings.