11 June 2020
  • webinar
  • Conflict
  • climate change
  • security risks

Webinar: Climate interventions & peace in the age of COVID-19

Join PSI webinar 'Climate Interventions & Peace in the Age of COVID-19' on Friday 19 June, 15.00-16.15 (CEST). The webinar will be streamed live via Clingendael YouTube channelRegister here to receive an email alert. 

Although the pandemic has shifted attention away from the security threats deriving from climate change, their risks have not been suspended. Landslides, monsoons, droughts and storms continue to occur while state capacity to address these challenges and to mediate conflict is reduced. The loss of livelihood due to global and local lockdown measures have disrupted logistical supply chains and pose an additional challenge to vulnerable societies. This, in turn, can reduce the opportunity costs to take up violence. 

Despite the call for a (temporary) ceasefire at the onset of the pandemic, in most conflict settings fighting has resumed, if halted at all. This makes it all the more important to consider how natural resource and climate action could help to establish dialogues between conflicting parties and address the root causes of conflict. In this webinar, we will discuss the climate-security nexus from a military, diplomacy and development perspective.  

Speakers: 

  • Louise van Schaik, The Clingendael Institute. Presenting key findings of 'military responses to climate change: ready for take-off' – a report published in March 2020 analyzing eleven country cases.
  • Thomas Ritzer, UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA). On environmental peacebuilding practices in the realm of diplomacy. 
  • Selena Victor, Mercy Corps. On best practice examples from a development perspective.
  • General Tom Middendorp (Ret.), Senior Associate Fellow, the Clingendael Institute, and Chair of the International Military Council on Climate & Security (IMCCS). Presenting concluding column: What should the Munich Security Conference 2021 discuss about the climate- security nexus? 

 

The webinar will be moderated by Tobias von Lossow, Project Manager of the Planetary Security Initiative at the Clingendael Institute.

This webinar is part of the Planetary Security Initiative (PSI) activities that aim to stimulate policy-relevant discussions on climate change and security among global experts from NGOs, the private sector, government agencies/ministries and academia. 

You can watch the livestream on Clingendael YouTube channel.  Register here if you would like to receive an email alert with the link 15 minutes in advance.

 

Photo credit: AMISOM Public Information/Flickr