Issue #265 – Mar 5, 2024

Announcements

Theme of Science Prize 2024: Ecocide: Impacts of Wars and/or Climate Change on Food Security Since 1945

February 24, 2024 | Hans Günter Brauch Foundation

The Hans Günter Brauch Foundation (HGBS) for Peace and Ecology in the Anthropocene awards annually an international science prize (ISP).

Want to Stay Up to Date on the Third International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding? Please Join Our Google Group (through June 2024).

February 20, 2024 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association

Join the Google Group to receive targeted information on the Third International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding, to be held in The Hague, Netherlands, from 19-21 June 2024, with a day of pre-conference events…

Events

For more upcoming events on environmental peacebuilding, please visit our online calendar of events.

Third International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding

June 18, 2024 - 2024-06-21 Environmental Peacebuilding Association and the Grotius Center for International Legal Studies at Leiden University
The Hague, Netherlands and online

The Environmental Peacebuilding Association® (EnPAx®) and the Grotius Center for International Legal Studies at Leiden University are delighted to announce that the Third International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding will be held on June 19-21, 2024.…

Towards a Theoretical Framework for Conflict-Sensitive Climate Adaptation Governance (A Path to The Hague Event)

March 14, 2024 CGIAR, International Institute for Sustainable Development, and National Adaptation Plan Global Network
online

This workshop intends to trigger a conversation around the mechanisms and strategies that may generate the governance conditions for conflict-sensitiveness to emerge within climate adaptation policy instruments.

International Criminal Law and Ecocide as an International Crime

March 7, 2024 Lund University
online

This webinar with Dr. Nicole Citeroni will delve into the crime of Ecocide.

Strengthening Practice to Address Conflict and Peace Issues in Conservation (A Path to The Hague Event)

March 6, 2024 Conservation International, Environmental Peacebuilding Association, Environmental Law Institute, and PeaceNexus Foundation
Washington, DC

Biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation work increasingly takes place in conflict-affected countries.

Library

In the last two weeks, 18 new publications were added to our online library of materials on environmental peacebuilding. Here is a sampling of the new additions:

Conflict Considerations in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s National Adaptation Plans

January 1, 2024 | Elise Remling and Karen Meijer
Climate and Development

Many places affected by violent conflict are also those with the lowest capacity to respond to the impacts of climate change and, therefore, some the most vulnerable.

What Makes a Change Agent in Environmental Conflicct Transformation? Evidence from Rural France

January 1, 2024 | Simon Calla, Lou Lécuyer, James R. A. Butler, and Juliette C. Young
Biodiversity and Conservation

Transformation of agriculture towards increased sustainability is needed to meet the challenge of declining biodiversity.

Business Responsibility Towards the Environment and Human Rights in Syria

January 1, 2023
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung and Syrian Legal Development Programme

Over a decade of war has ravaged Syria, leaving behind a fractured nation and crumbling infrastructure. While the humanitarian crisis dominates headlines, another threat simmers silently: environmental devastation.

Environmental Conflict and the Expansion of Renewable Energy in Central America: Exploring Canadian Participation

January 1, 2023 | Simon Granovsky-Larsen and Paulina Larreátegui Benavides
Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies

As capacity to generate and distribute renewable energy expands across Central America, environmental conflict is on the rise, with communities confronting dispossession of water and territory.

Environmental Defenders in the Philippines: Ecological Grief, Loss, Trauma, Hope and Protection

January 1, 2023 | John Jamir Benzon R. Aruta
Journal of Loss and Trauma

A letter published recently discussed the lack of attention to ecological grief, how Filipino youth are vulnerable such kind of grief, and proposed relevant ways to address this and ultimately contribute to environmental…

Technology of Detachment: The Promise of Renewable Energy and Its Contentious Reality in the South of Colombia

January 1, 2023 | Cornelia Helmcke
Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space

Taking infrastructure as the means to control space, this paper analyses the large-scale hydroelectric dam project “El Quimbo” in Huila, South Colombia, and the environmental conflict it caused.

Conflicts and Natural Disasters, Sources of Migration in the Twenty-First Century (chapter in "The Handbook of Environmental Chemistry")

January 1, 2023 | Daniel Constantin Diaconu and Alexandra Grecu
Springer

The increasing number of people forced to find a new “home country,” even for a limited period, is due to conflicts and violence, political and religious ideologies, and the increasingly prominent manifestations of…

The Need for Willingness and Opportunity: Analyzing Where and When Environmental Variability Influence Conflict in the Sahel

January 1, 2023 | Justin Schon, Britt Koehnlein, and Ore Koren
Population and Environment

Researchers and policymakers often claim that harsh climate conditions intensify the risk of armed conflict by acting as a “threat multiplier.

Security Risks from Climate Change and Environmental Degradation: Implications for Sustainable Land Use Transformation in the Global South

January 1, 2023 | Trung Thanh Nguyen, Ulrike Grote, Frank Neubacher, Dil B. Rahut, Manh Hung Do, and Gokul P. Paudel
Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability

Climate change and environmental degradation remain the most complex challenges that present and future generations of humankind face and raise several security risks that have received relatively little attention in the literature.

Spatial Patterns of Communal Violence in Sub-Saharan Africa

January 1, 2023 | Stefan Döring and Katariina Mustasilta
Journal of Peace Research

Communal violence is a major source of insecurity within and across borders, sparking significant displacement flows and disturbing livelihoods.

Jobs

Please visit our jobs page to view these positions and other job opportunities.

Somalia: Resilience Specialist, Mogadishu

March 3, 2024 | Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN

The key mission of the FAO Representation in Somalia, which is led by FAO Representative (FAOR), is to assist and support the national government to develop policies, strategies and programme aimed at accelerating…

Netherlands/Remote: Terms of Reference (ToR) Fragile Contexts Consultation

March 3, 2024 | SNV Netherlands Development Organisation

SNV is a mission-driven global development partner working in more than 20 countries across Africa and Asia.

Palestine: Programme Assistant- Community Feedback Mechanism

March 3, 2024 | World Food Programme

The United Nations World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide. The mission of WFP is to help the world achieve Zero Hunger in our lifetimes.

Ukraine: Information Management & Performance Reporting Officer

March 3, 2024 | World Food Programme

The World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity, for people recovering from conflict, disasters…

Iraq: Consultancy-Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plans

March 3, 2024 | Oxfam GB

Oxfam in Iraq envisions climate justice in a way that is feminist, equal, and free from conflict, promoting human rights, and expanding civic space.

International News

In the last two weeks, 26 international news items on environmental peacebuilding were posted on our website. The following is a sampling:

Tibet: Leading Experts Discuss Tibet’s Water Imbalance and Conflict at 4th Tibet Environment Conference in Thailand

November 27, 2023 | Central Tibetan Administration

The 4th Tibet Environment Conference was held in Thailand from 27-28 November. The two-day conference was jointly organised by Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and Chulalongkorn University.

Sudan/South Sudan/Abyei: 34 Die in Abyei-South Sudan ‘Land Dispute’

November 27, 2023 | Dabanga

At least 34 people have died, 34 others injured, and about 4,000 displaced in attacks in the disputed Abyei* border region between Sudan and South Sudan last week.

Afghanistan: Afghans Fight Drought with Small Dams as Taliban Shut out of COP28

November 26, 2023 | Rohullah Talaash and Emma Batha, Thomson Reuters Foundation

Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change with increasing droughts and flash floods destroying livelihoods and fueling hunger.

Ukraine: Ukraine Needs More Air Defenses to Protect Grain Exports, Zelenskiy Says

November 25, 2023 | Max Hunder, Reuters

Ukraine needs more air defences to protect its grain export routes as well as regions bordering Russia, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday, as he addressed an international summit on food security in…

Benin/Niger/Burkina Faso: Does the United States Fund a Cheetah Mating Program in West Africa Because of … Terrorism?

November 24, 2023 | Ben Mathis-Lilley, Slate

The Wall Street Journal published a dispatch this week from West Africa, where militants affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group are increasingly using national park conservation areas as hideouts and engaging…

Afghanistan: Afghanistan Tops Global List for Highest Landmine-Affected Areas

November 22, 2023 | Fidel Rahmati, Khaama Press

The Danish Refugee Council recently announced that Afghanistan is recognized as one of the countries in the world with the highest landmine-affected areas.

Zimbabwe: Removal of Most Wartime Landmines Relieving

November 22, 2023 | The Herald

Clearing landmines from these regions is a fundamental step towards restoring normalcy, enabling communities to reclaim their land and livelihoods.

Afghanistan: Water Dams Being Built in All Districts to Combat Drought: Mujahid

November 21, 2023 | Ahmad Sohaib Hasrat, Pajhwok Afghan News

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) plans to build water dams in all district of the country to combat drought.

Ukraine: AI Warfare: The Company Hunting Land Mines in Ukraine

November 21, 2023 | Jason Simpkins

Over the past year and a half, Russia has deployed thousands of mines to keep Ukraine from regaining its territory.

Colombia: As Colombia’s Coca Economy Crashes, New Opportunities — and Threats — Arise

November 15, 2023 | Mie Hoejris Dahl, Mongabay

In the world’s major cities, partygoers do lines of cocaine, far removed from the environmental and human costs of consuming this white powder.

Iraq/Kurdistan: Oil Export Agreement between Iraq, Kurdistan Grows Optimism

November 15, 2023 | Middle East North Africa Financial Network

Iraqi Oil Minister Hayan Abdul Ghani expressed optimism on Tuesday regarding the potential for an agreement with the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to resume oil exports in the coming days.

Blogs & Opinion

In the last two weeks, 9 blogs & opinion pieces on environmental peacebuilding were posted on our website. Here is a sampling:

Damming the Blue Nile: Will Ethiopian-Egyptian Tensions Ignite?

March 1, 2024 | Martin Sherman

Largely ignored in western commentary, a dispute between two western-aligned governments in Africa threatens to erupt into open conflict.

UN: Climate Change and Food Insecurity Threaten Global Peace

February 27, 2024 | BusinessMirror

Climate change and food insecurity are intertwined challenges that have far-reaching implications for global peace and security.

After War, Afghanistan’s New Battle: Climate Disasters

February 27, 2024 | Meladul Haq Ahmadzai

During the war, Afghanistan grappled with climatic disasters amidst competing priorities. Today, post-war, the nation confronts exacerbated challenges of climate change, contending with issues like prolonged droughts and severe flooding.

Liberia Conservation Works Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods to Preserve Liberia’s Forests

February 26, 2024 | FrontPage Africa

Over two thirds of Liberia’s land is covered by forests, with over half of the country’s residents living within walking distance of a forest and relying on forest resources for income.

How the UN Environment Assembly Can Help Addressing the Environmental Impacts of War

February 21, 2024 | PAX

On February 26, UN Environmental Assembly (UNEA) – the world’s top decision-making body on the environment – will begin its Sixth Session in Nairobi, Kenya.

Waters of Conflict

February 19, 2024 | Joshua Frank

The situation is beyond dire.

Ticking Boxes: Are Military Climate Mitigation Strategies Fit for Purpose?

February 19, 2024 | Linsey Cottrell

Many sectors face difficult challenges in reducing their GHG emissions in order to achieve net-zero targets by 2050.

Join the Association

The Environmental Peacebuilding Association® (EnPAx®) is the leading global network that brings together practitioners, researchers, and decision makers working on environment, conflict, and peace. EnPAx includes both individual and institutional members. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact us at membership@environmentalpeacebuilding.org.

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About Our Community of Practice

Environmental Peacebuilding is a knowledge platform and global community of practice on natural resources, conflict, and peace, hosted by the Environmental Peacebuilding Association. The platform unites a global network of researchers, practitioners, and decision makers in sharing experiences and lessons from managing natural resources in fragile states and conflict-affected settings. The platform also helps people to access new publications on the topic, conduct new research, and participate in events to support the growth of the field. As part of our Community of Practice, we bring you biweekly updates on recent developments, including news about our program as well as links to new publications, upcoming conferences and events, and job openings.

Please visit us at www.environmentalpeacebuilding.org for more information.

Compiled by Jennah Colborn, Josh Dougherty, Carrie Hanks, Liz Hessami, Devika Manish Kumar, Anna McDonald, Nilisha Patel, Sarah Shahabi, Aianna Siembab, Major Stevens, Audrey Thill, Diego Toledo, Sarah Xu, Leela Yadav, Milen Yishak, and Julie Yoon
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