Issue #331 – Sep 15, 2026

Announcements

Call for Applications: Current Issues in Environmental Peacebuilding — February 22-26, 2027

September 14, 2026 | Venice International University

Environmental peacebuilding is an emerging and rapidly changing field. It engages a range of disciplines, ranging from political science, political economy, and geography to law and environmental sciences.

Apply Now to Become a UN Youth Champion for Environment and Peace [Deadline: September 20, 2026]

September 14, 2026 | UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus

For the sixth year, UNFICYP and the British Council, through its regional Youth Connect programme, are pleased to offer the acclaimed UN Youth Champions for Environment and Peace initiative.

Events

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

Law, Policy and Science in Environmental Peacebuilding Training

October 12, 2026 - 2026-10-16 Geneva Water Hub
Ljubljana, Slovenia

This interactive program explores how natural resources influence conflict dynamics and peace processes, addressing key legal frameworks, challenges, and strategies.

Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2026

October 6, 2026 German Federal Foreign Office, adelphi global, and Climate Diplomacy
online

Since its inaugural edition in 2019, the annual Berlin Climate and Security Conference (BCSC) has established itself as the leading global forum connecting governments, international organisations, researchers, civil society, and practitioners working at…

Climate-Sensitive Peacebuilding: Integrating Climate Awareness into Your Peace Practices

September 21, 2026 - 2026-10-12 Pro Peace: Academy for Conflict Transformation
online

The consequences of climate change are reshaping the landscape of conflict work. Peace practitioners need the tools to keep pace.

Library

In the last two weeks, 7 new publications were added to our online library of materials on environmental peacebuilding.

Water, Conflict, and Peace: A Decade of Developments

September 14, 2026 | Ekta Patel, Juliane Schillinger, Tadesse Kabebew, Mara Tignino, Erika Weinthal, and Carl Bruch
Water International

This article examines the evolving relationship between water, conflict, and peace over the past decade.

From Conflict to Climate Crisis: How Wars Shape the Future Environment

September 14, 2026 | Doorgha Ragoobur
Journal of Environmental Management

Military activity is a current blind spot in global climate policy. This systematic review synthesises evidence from 263 studies and 36 reports published between 2014 and 2025.

Protection of the Natural Environment in Armed Conflict under International Humanitarian Law: Implementation Guidance

September 14, 2026
International Committee of the Red Cross

The present implementation guidance document sets out measures to assist national entities implementing IHL rules protecting the natural environment, with a focus on certain key obligations.

Ecocide in Ukraine: An Assessment of Geospatial and Environmental Evidence of War-Related Ecosystem Destruction in Ukraine

September 14, 2026 | Walter Leal Filho, Mariia Fedoruk, Oleksandra Kunyk, Uliana Semak, Nataliia Yaroshenko, Mariia Ruda, Joao Paulino Pires Eustachio, Maria Alzira Pimenta Dinis, and Johannes M. Luetz
Frontiers in Environmental Science

The ongoing war in Ukraine has triggered large-scale and multi-dimensional environmental degradation affecting soils, freshwater systems, forests, agricultural landscapes, atmospheric quality, and biodiversity.

UNEP’s Post-Conflict Environmental Assessment as an Instrument for Addressing Wartime Environmental Destruction: Securitisation for Policy-Making?

September 14, 2026 | Emma Hakala
Environment & Security

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has carried out post-conflict environmental assessments (PCEAs) to evaluate the environmental damage of conflicts since the late 1990s.

WATER WARS: Official Trailer [Video]

September 14, 2026
Red Aces Productions

A feature documentary narrated by Dennis Quaid, WATER WARS explores a clash between ranchers, farmers, and billionaires in a high-stakes legal war over water rights that goes all the way to the Texas…

Common Ground: Peacebuilding through Social and Community Farming in Northern Ireland

September 14, 2026 | Jonathan H. Hanson, Aoibeann Walsh, Matt N. Williams, and William Martin
Local Environment

This practice review considers social and community farming as similar approaches to connecting society with farming and farming with society in Northern Ireland.

Jobs

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

South Sudan: Programme Officer – Livelihoods, DRR/CCA and Livestock

September 14, 2026 | Catholic Agency for Overseas Development

CAFOD is the official overseas aid agency of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, part of Caritas Internationalis.

Venezuela: Coordinador.a de Emergencias

September 14, 2026 | Médicos del Mundo

Médicos del Mundo es una Organización internacional que defiende el derecho a la salud y ofrece asistencia humanitaria en más de 70 países.

Somalia: Data Analyst (National Position)

September 14, 2026 | Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. It innovates solutions, advocate for change, and reach 24 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment Programes.

Syria: WASH Officer

September 14, 2026 | Oxfam

Since June 2013, Oxfam in Syria has been working to address the immediate live-saving and sustainable water and sanitation needs of thousands of crisis-affected women, men, girls and boys.

DRC: Directeur/trice Pays Adjoint Programmes (H/F) - Goma

September 14, 2026 | Solidarités International

Solidarités International est une association d’aide humanitaire internationale qui, depuis plus de 40 ans, porte secours aux populations victimes de conflits armés et de catastrophes naturelles en répondant aux besoins vitaux, boire, manger,…

Palestine: Program Coordinator (M/F) - Jerusalem

September 14, 2026 | Solidarités International

Solidarités International is an international humanitarian aid association which, since more than 40 years, has been providing assistance to populations affected by armed conflicts and natural disasters by meeting their basic needs for…

Chad: Responsable de Projet Climat & Environnement – Adré

September 14, 2026 | Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development

Acted travaille avec 19 millions de personnes dans 43 pays au carrefour de l’humanitaire, du développement, et des programmes climatiques et environnementaux.

Kenya: Baseline Assessment for the Climate Resilient Eastern African Transboundary Water Management for Environmental Sustainability (CREATES) Programme

September 14, 2026 | International Union for Conservation of Nature

IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations.

International News

In the last two weeks, 30 international news items on environmental peacebuilding were posted on our website. The following is a sampling:

Afghanistan: UNODC Supports Rose and Saffron Farming as Alternatives to Opium Poppy in Afghanistan

September 14, 2026 | Fidel Rahmati
Khaama Press

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), with support from Italy, is promoting rose and saffron cultivation and processing in Afghanistan as alternative sources of income for farmers affected by the…

Saudi Arabia/Yemen: Red Sea Crisis Escalates as Houthis Seize Islands and Threaten Vital Oil Shipping Routes

September 14, 2026
Deutsche Welle

A fresh Houthi offensive in the southern Red Sea is threatening to further disrupt global oil supplies and shipping, after the Iranian-backed rebels announced Monday that they had captured Greater and Lesser Hanish…

India/Pakistan: India-Pakistan Water Row Deepens after Hague Court Ruling

September 13, 2026 | Maria Siow
South China Morning Post

On August 31, the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruled that Delhi had no legal basis for suspending the water-sharing agreement, adding that India must also limit construction on the Ratle…

China/Nepal: Climate, Environment at Center of Nepal-China Cooperation: Foreign Minister Khanal

September 12, 2026
Khabarhub

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has called for Nepal-China relations to move beyond traditional border management and develop into a strategic partnership centered on environmental cooperation, climate security, technology, trade and infrastructure development.

Iraq/Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia Shuts Key Oil Pipeline after Drone Attack Launched from Iraq

September 12, 2026 | Tiffanie Turnbull
BBC

Saudi Arabia has closed a critical oil pipeline after it was attacked by drones launched from Iraq, as conflict in the Middle East widens.

Colombia: Colombia Moves to Revive Aerial Eradication of Coca Crops

September 10, 2026
The City Paper

Colombia is moving rapidly to revive aerial eradication of coca, but the chemical at the centre of its first proposed test will not be glyphosate, known commercially as “Round Up”.

Climate Change: The Next Wars May Not Be about Oil or Borders: Climate Change Is Turning Food, Water and Farmland into New Sources of Conflict across the World

September 6, 2026
Economic Times

Climate change is reshaping global agriculture and resource availability. This shift could increasingly drive future conflicts and instability worldwide. Droughts and extreme weather are reducing food production in vulnerable regions.

Liberia: LLA Urges Youth to Turn Land Rights into Action

September 6, 2026
Observer

The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) Assistant Director for Communications and Outreach, Emmanuel Chedeh Davis, has challenged young Liberians to move beyond discussions on land rights and become active players in resolving land disputes,…

Food Security: El Niño, Regional Wars Fuel Global Food Crisis [Video]

September 5, 2026 | Hannah Hummel
Deutsche Welle

Global food prices are climbing as the effects of climate change and conflict collide.

Climate Change: When Climate Risk becomes a Security Crisis

September 5, 2026 | Ludwig Federigan
Manila Times

Conflict Minerals: Tesla, Volkswagen and Amazon Filings Flag Blacklisted African Gold Refiners as Possible Suppliers

September 3, 2026 | Ayodeji Adegboyega
Business Insider

Supply-chain disclosures by Tesla, Amazon and Volkswagen have identified sanctioned gold refineries in Uganda and Rwanda among facilities that may have processed minerals used somewhere within their supplier networks.

Israel/Palestine/Gaza: Israel Halted Supply of Water to Gaza amid Ongoing Desalination Crisis

September 2, 2026 | Nir Hasson
Haaretz

Israel's national water company Mekorot halted the flow of water to Gaza on Tuesday, amid a crisis affecting Israel's desalination facilities, leading to nearly one million people in Gaza suffering water shortages on…

Afghanistan: UNICEF Announces Solar-Powered Water Systems in Vulnerable Areas of Ghor

September 1, 2026
Hasht-e-Subh Daily

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says it will provide solar-powered water supply systems to improve access to clean water in vulnerable areas of Ghor.

Israel/Palestine/Gaza: Destroyed Desalination Plant Worsens Gaza’s Drinking Water Crisis

September 1, 2026 | Maram Humaid
Al Jazeera

On August 24, Israel bombed the desalination plant, as it continues to flout the October ceasefire deal it agreed to.

Blogs & Opinion

In the last two weeks, 16 blogs & opinion pieces on environmental peacebuilding were posted on our website. Here is a sampling:

The Iran War’s Climate, Environmental, and Human Security Fallout

September 14, 2026 | Alejandro Martin Rodriguez, Joy Arkeh, and Sarah Yerkes

In a region already much affected by climate impacts and conflict dynamics, the continuation of the Iran war will reinforce their relationship and, in turn, result in serious humanitarian consequences.

Afghanistan’s Curse Was Manufactured – and Now Haunts Its Makers

September 12, 2026 | Ikramul Haq

Afghanistan is not cursed because copper lies beneath Logar, lapis beneath Badakhshan or iron beneath Bamiyan.

Staying in Place: Building Cultural Security in a Changing Climate

September 9, 2026 | Claudia Fry and Selai Maramanisoso

As the Pacific prepares to host pre-COP31, the region has a unique opportunity to advance dialogue on peace and security through a Pacific-led climate-peace nexus.

Are Rising Spending and Temperatures Causing More Fires on European Military Lands?

September 9, 2026 | Sara Niknam, Adam Krid, and Ritchie Davelaar

As European countries raise military spending and step up training, one environmental risk is becoming harder to ignore: fire.

Hunger Warfare and a Fertilizer Crisis Are Straining Global Food Supplies

September 8, 2026 | Michael Werz

Using food as a lever is a proven military method as old as siege warfare, now conducted at global range.

The Strategic Execution Gap: Why America Can Find Critical Minerals - and Still Lose Them

September 6, 2026 | Rare Earth Exchanges

Critical minerals are turning foreign ministries into business-development organizations. Embassies, development banks, export-credit agencies, and political leaders will increasingly compete to secure mining concessions, infrastructure, financing, processing, and offtake agreements.

New Cluster Munition Action Plan Would Include More Environment and Climate

September 2, 2026 | Anna McKean and Jonathan Walsh

The process of environmental mainstreaming in mine action has been underway for several years.

Indus Waters Treaty and the New Fault Line in South Asian Security

September 1, 2026 | Amina Jabbar

It is well known that water is the next potential source of conflict in the world where climate change, population increase and the shortage of natural resources are inevitable.

Conflict and Climate: Double Threat Driving Great Lakes Displacement

August 31, 2026 | Institute for Security Studies

Climate hazards are compounding decades of conflict-driven displacement, while fragmented responses expose vulnerable communities to repeated crises.

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.

Sharing and Posting Materials

The strength of the knowledge platform depends on submissions and suggestions on contents from users. To share publications and information on events, job opportunities, and other announcements, please contact share@environmentalpeacebuilding.org. Please also feel free to share ideas on how the platform can be further improved to meet your needs.

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.

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Compiled by Buket Altınçelep, Maria Camilla Cadonici, Morgan Dreibelbis, Liz Hessami, Muwei Jiang, Delaney Laffler, Caroline Logan, and Caroline Ronveaux
Coordinated by Andy Zhang
Design by Graham Campbell
Managed and edited by Carl Bruch and Joel Young