Wilson Center | Environmental Change and Security Program

Swathi Veeravalli has been a force behind USG progress on #climatesecurity, most recently in her position at the National Security Council, so I happily nabbed a chat with her on her last day in office this week to get her thoughts on the new US Framework for Climate Resilience and Security and what success looks like over the next decade. It's no small feat to tie together the many threads of climate security-related issues and the countless bureaucracies and stakeholders needed to drive progress. Thank you to Swathi and her colleagues across USG for their extraordinary work. (Now, get back to work...there's a lot more to do) https://bit.ly/3V2LN7T

????The devastating impact of climate change is becoming increasingly evident, and its effects are not evenly distributed. Rising sea levels are displacing entire communities, taking away homes, and fueling the spread of diseases. ??Over 920 million children are grappling with water scarcity, a crisis that threatens their survival and future. Malnutrition and food insecurity, exacerbated by climate change, are stunting the growth and potential of millions of children worldwide. Air pollution accounts for 7 million premature deaths annually and is a major contributing factor to mortality among children under five. At?#COP29, Dr. Tedros, Director-General of the WHO, issued a stark reminder that the climate crisis is not just an environmental issue—it is a public health emergency and a social justice challenge. Women and children are at the forefront of this crisis, enduring its harshest consequences. In our Policy Brief, Pioneering Solutions: Climate Finance, Gender Equity, and Sexual Reproductive Health Services, we address the relationship between climate, health, and gender equality and suggest solutions for integrating SRH services in climate mechanisms. ??To learn more, click the link below: https://bit.ly/3CIkt8s?#climateaction?#who?#climatejustice?#genderequality?#maternalhealth Wilson Center | Environmental Change and Security Program

In the Summer of 2023, I was awarded the Tufts Elephant Conservation Alliance grant to study pathways to mitigate human-elephant conflicts in Ethiopia. I found that biodiversity conservation in Ethiopia faces critical challenges, especially in conflict-stricken areas like the Babile Elephant Sanctuary, where human-elephant conflict has escalated due to illegal encroachments, displacement, and resource constraints.? In this article, authored for the Wilson Center | Environmental Change and Security Program, I demonstrate the interlinkages between human security, conservation, and conflict. Aligning with the recent UN Biodiversity Convention-COP16 dialogues, I emphasize the need to integrate conservation governance with community-centered solutions, such as #ecotourism, alternative #livelihoods, and #participatory land management, to foster coexistence and mitigate human-wildlife conflict. Read the full article on #NewSecurityBeat ? https://lnkd.in/enJ4jRdd Thank you for the opportunity Claire Doyle Lauren Herzer Risi Angus Soderberg!

Are you a young professional in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) interested in climate change and security? Apply today for the Agents of Change Youth Fellowship! This fellowship is an opportunity for emerging leaders from the MENA region to advance their careers. With a focus on MENA's water challenges, this year's cohort will engage in an expert seminar series, an original research paper, and a culminating trip within the region. The fellowship is open to applicants from countries in the MENA region with a minimum of a bachelor's degree and 3 years of work experience in a relevant field or a master's degree and a proven interest in pursuing a career incorporating issues related to climate change and peace. Check out testimonials from the past ACYF Cohort below and read their insights on gender-responsive climate finance, water management, green entrepreneurship, and more. Applications for the 2025 cohort close on December 15! Visit the fellowship webpage to learn how to apply ?? https://lnkd.in/edXuFJMv

Curious about what climate security means for US foreign policy? Or how a new tool can offer insights for dealing with climate and conflict challenges? Find answers to these questions and much more in the articles published on #NewSecurityBeat this week. Check them out below?? ?? The Story Behind Climate Security and What it Means for US Foreign Policy | By Noah Fritzhand & Angus Soderberg - https://buff.ly/4fH6bTZ ?? As Humanitarian Crises Grow, So Do Risks for Women and Newborns | By Sarah Barnes, MPH, Dr. Claudia Donkor, Deborah Denis, Mushtaq Khan, Jihan Salad, Harriet Ruysen, Rondi Anderson & Hani Rukh-E-Qamar - https://buff.ly/3ObRjBb ?? New Tool Offers Key Insights for Tackling Climate and Conflict Challenges | By Kayly Ober, Daniel Abrahams, PhD & Luna B. Ruiz State - https://buff.ly/3Z46imW ?? The Arc | Indigenous and Community Power: Localizing Climate Action | By Wilson Center Staff - https://buff.ly/3YKv2iE ?? ECSP Weekly Watch | November 12 – 15 | By Neeraja Kulkarni - https://buff.ly/3UVTSv1

?? Application Now Open | Agents of Change Youth Fellowship Wilson Center | Middle East Program and Wilson Center | Environmental Change and Security Program are pleased to announce a call for applications for the “Agents of Change Youth Fellowship.” The ACYF Fellowship is an opportunity for emerging leaders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to advance their careers at the intersection of climate change, water, and security. recognizing the importance of addressing water-related challenges in the MENA region and the potential for its youth to meaningfully shape action on water and climate change, this year’s theme will focus on how to address water-related challenges in the region. As a fellow, you will get the chance to hear from leading experts in the water, climate, and security fields, build technical research and writing skills, and conduct original research on a topic of their choosing. Learn how to apply today on the fellowship webpage?? https://buff.ly/49FxHi2

??? Today, leaders at #COP29 will convene for the ‘Energy/Peace, Relief, and Recovery Day’ to advance climate-related causes of human insecurity and scale up international cooperation to streamline finance for relief and recovery, especially for climate-vulnerable countries with high levels of humanitarian needs. Over 50 international NGOs have submitted proposals to address the damage caused by water scarcity, food security, and ecological mine contamination. Ecosystem for Peace, a collective of experts in the field, have put forth principles for effective climate finance and action for relief, recovery, and peace: ?Building and incorporating an in-depth understanding of the specific context through participatory and inclusive processes in climate action and programming. ?Ensuring flexibility and adaptability of financing mechanisms based on continuous learning and evidence, anticipating and responding to changes over time. ?Prioritising local ownership and leadership of affected groups to further community-led environmental peacebuilding efforts. ?Supporting collaboration and synergies among diverse stakeholders accounting for the needs of the community. As deliberation at COP29 gets underway, keep an eye on the #Climate and #Peace Initiative, which will deliberate on tangible outcomes to match the needs of the vulnerable communities with existing resources while fostering various initiatives on the peace and climate nexus. Also look out for the Baku Climate and Peace Action Hub, which will work towards fostering new multi-stakeholder partnerships to share best practices and develop implementation mechanisms, including establishing a center of excellence hub. The Wilson Center

?? As climate finance takes center stage at #COP29, it is important to recognize that despite the evidence, funding for climate responses that focus on health or gender remains relatively low. In the rare instances where climate finance provides funds to improve health services, sexual and #reproductivehealth (SRH) services—which are critical to women’s full participation in society and decision-making—are largely neglected. Last month, ECSP and the Wilson Center | Maternal Health Initiative partnered to produce a #NewSecurityBrief exploring opportunities to integrate #gender equity and sexual and reproductive health services into climate finance. The New Security Brief, produced with support from the Population Institute, surveys current trends and recommends pathways to close the gap between climate resilience and gender equity that make #climatefinance more impactful. ?? Check out the full brief here ?? https://buff.ly/48x7W3F

?? #COP29 is underway! For two weeks, leaders, experts, activists, and communities from around the world are gathering for the 29th UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan, to advance climate action and strengthen global commitments. Delegates are set to host discussions on critical issues ranging from climate finance, green technology, and the energy transition to community #resilience and #justice. With COP29 being heralded as the "finance COP," keep your eye on two new initiatives—the Climate Finance Action Fund and the Baku Initiative for Climate Finance, Investment, and Trade—that aim to encourage voluntary annual contributions from fossil fuel-producing countries and organizations. Stay tuned for more coverage of COP29's Energy/Peace, Relief, and Recovery Day on November 15! And of course, check out #NewSecurityBeat to learn more about the road to Baku through past COPs and some of the challenges and lessons learned from climate action over the years: https://buff.ly/2NE6X7R ?? ?“Relief, Recovery, and Peace: Iris Ferguson on COP28’s New Theme” By Lauren Herzer Risi ?“COP 27 in Sharm: Few Opportunities and More Challenges for MENA Environmentalists” By Peter Schwartzstein. ?“End of the Beginning:” What Was Achieved at COP21?” By Graham Norwood MSW, ACSW. #ClimateConflictNexus #COP29 #Peace

?? As #climatechange intensifies, its impact on global security worsens—driving conflict and instability. CCS and The Wilson Center co-hosted an event to take a deep dive into these issues.? ?? Read key takeaways from Noah Fritzhand and Angus Soderberg: