Pragmatic Peacebuilding for Climate Change in Cities (A Path to Ottawa Event)

Mar 11, 2026 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association Urban Interest Group

Please join us for this Path to Ottawa Event on March 11, 2026 at 10 AM EST/3 PM CET. Please register here. 

This session aims to explore how conflict‑sensitive approaches, and “pragmatic peacebuilding” can make city adaptation more inclusive, trusted, and effective. As climate impacts intensify, municipal decisions on water, heat, land use, and infrastructure can either inflame tensions or strengthen social cohesion. In this session, we will hear from Dr. Achim Wennmann, author of the 2023 USIP report “Pragmatic Peacebuilding for Climate Change Adaptation in Cities,” and discuss practical tools, real-world lessons, and scalable actions for integrating peacebuilding with urban climate adaptation.

We’ll tackle questions such as: How can cities diagnose and mitigate conflict risks within adaptation plans and projects? What participatory methods build trust with frontline communities while accelerating delivery? How should municipalities prepare for climate-related mobility and resource stress without deepening inequality? Which governance and financing mechanisms enable co-benefits for safety, equity, and resilience—and how do we measure them?