The Future of Environmental Peacebuilding (PLENARY)

Theme Icon - Reimagining Environmental Peacebuilding

Date & Time
Jun 18, 2026 | 9.00 - 10.30

Participants
Chair: Carl Bruch, Environmental Law Institute (United States)
Ashok Swain, Uppsala University (Sweden)
Joanne Lebert, IMPACT (Canada)
Juliane Schillinger, Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre (Netherlands)

The world has entered a new geopolitical era, characterized by reduced funding for environmental, humanitarian, and development assistance; growing polarization; and reduced global consensus. Future increases in the frequency, severity, and impacts of both conflicts and climate-related disasters are likely, driving human misery and instability. In this new era, environmental peacebuilding will both be increasingly relevant and challenging. This panel will explore the challenges facing environmental peacebuilding in this new geopolitical era, as well as various pathways, opportunities, and strategies for environmental peacebuilders and for environmental peacebuilding as a field.