This program will explore how human and economic capital can be developed in Arctic regions and how communities work with various levels of government, particularly when decisions made by sub-federal entities must rely on far-away federal capitals with varying degrees of knowledge of the Far North. This event is co-sponsored by the Wilson Center's Polar Initiative, Environmental Change and Security Program, and Canada Institute.
Natural resources can play a central role in building sustainable peace in post-conflict societies.
Between 2007 and 2014, social unrest erupted across the globe. In Tunisia, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, Greece, Spain, Turkey, Brazil, Thailand, Bosnia, Venezuela and Ukraine people took to the streets to protest against their governments. These protests had one factor in common: discontent with the government and underlying tensions were exacerbated by dramatic increases in food prices.
Syria is a warning sign of the crises to come. It gives us an important lesson on the links between livelihood insecurity, climate change and fragility. However, most of the reporting on the current crisis focuses on the violence and the extent of destruction. While this kind of reporting is important as it can keep the crisis on the political agenda and hopefully spur action to decrease human suffering and find solutions to the conflicts, it does not provide us with a deep understanding of how the crisis emerged in the first place and thus misses some key points which might help us prevent the next crisis from happening.
In 2011 Thailand was hit by unprecedented monsoon rains far above the average rainfall of the previous 30 years. Two million people across 26 provinces were affected. During the crisis, hundreds of civilians took it to the streets to protest discrimination by the Flood Response Operation Centre and the unfair distribution of water, electricity supply, shelter and food. Civilians were so angry that they broke a sandbag wall in Bangkok which was protecting a wealthy district from water surges. Public unrest and discontent with the government continued until a military coup in 2013.
The Climate South Initiative will welcome international leaders to take a results-oriented stand on climate change and define the role of the global South in reaching a climate agreement at COP21 in Paris in December 2015.
This 21 page report assesses how youth bulges and climate change can interact and multiply the risk of violence in regions already vulnerable to poor governance and social and political instability. Violence is defined here as civil conflicts, anti-state political violence and civil unrest. The report identifies sub-Saharan Africa as the region most at risk, with several other sub-regions facing concurrent demographic and climate dynamics that could negatively impact the security environment. The report recommends prioritizing equitable, climate-resilient economic growth, and strengthening democratic institutions to improve livelihoods and political inclusion for young people, in order to promote peace and stability. The research was commissioned by UNICEF-UK for the start of their five-year campaign on long-term threats to youth, and was co-authored by the International Institute for Strategic Studies and International Alert. It is the first research report on youth, climate and violence linkages. It uses case studies on Egypt, Guatemala, Indonesia and Kenya, all of which have youth bulges and limited resilience to climate impacts.
As conflicts and crises continue to stretch the humanitarian system, there is a growing need for critical thinking and reflection. The Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG)'s Senior-level Course on Conflict and Humanitarian Response, taught in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), offers such an opportunity.
The complexity of 21st century water demands calls for new strategies that foster long-term stewardship between people, their communities and the environment. This course takes place as part of the Oregon State University’s fourth annual Natural Resources Leadership Academy. It offers an opportunity for water resource professionals and graduate students to learn about current and leading edge ways to work effectively in contentious water situations.
As cities across the world grow rapidly, they are increasingly vulnerable to urban violence, natural disasters, climate change and poverty. This day-long event will bring together key insights on urbanisation and development from the latest research by the Overseas Development Institute. These insights will shed light on pathways towards ensuring inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities in line with current proposals for an urban Sustainable Development Goal.
In addition to standing agenda items on the global economy and foreign, security and development policy, the heads of state and government of the Group of Seven (G7) will consider: protection of the marine environment, marine governance and resource efficiency; antibiotic resistance, neglected and poverty-related diseases, and Ebola; retail and supply chain standards; and empowering self-employed women and women in vocational training.
This conference is the sixth in a series arranged by the Centre for Climate and Safety at Karlstad University, with climate politics and awareness as specific themes for this edition, i.e. how climate adaptation and disaster risk management can be integrated in broad societal planning.
It is a venue for all who work with climate-related risks in different ways: as professionals, politicians, or researchers, from local or national authorities, from public or private sector. Presentations of experiences and knowledge from practice and research are mixed with discussion sessions.
UfP’s 2015 Summer Conference will take place under the theme ’Surviving the 21st Century - Global Challenges, Threats and Prospects for Peace’. During this major conference, distinguished speakers will explore three urgent and important issues facing humanity in three individual sessions: (1) war and peacebuilding, (2) islamophobia and interfaith dialogue and (3) climate change crisis and solutions.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs
The 2015 Global Land Forum will take place under the theme 'Land governance for inclusive development, justice and sustainability: time for action'. The event will bring together practitioners, land users, activists, policy makers and researchers from around the world. Participants will debate, share and plan joint action on people-centered land governance, with the aim of contributing to broader goals of poverty reduction, food security, environmental sustainability and human well-being and dignity, including within the context of the post-2015 development framework.