Urban Environmental Peacebuilding: Improving Policy, Practice, and Understanding for Safer and More Resilient Cities [EnPAx Urban Interest Group]

Date & Time
Jun 17, 2026 | 11.00 - 12.30

Participants
Chair: Silvia Danielak, George Mason University (United States)
Hector Camilo Morales Munoz, adelphi; Humboldt Universität zu Berlin (Germany)
Laura Peters, Oregon State University (United States)
Matti Lehtonen, UN Environment (UNEP) (United States)

The Urban Environmental Peacebuilding Roundtable seeks to set the agenda for engaging 'the urban' in environmental peacebuilding, with linkages to informing engagement with ‘the environment’ in urban peacebuilding. In the face of global, rapid urbanization and the massive challenges that cities and urban dwellers face, considerations of urban environments for peacebuilding are timely. Cities are at the frontline of experiencing, and combating, climate change, fragility, and social conflict—often happening in interaction. Much of the work of cities and of urban actors is geared to reducing risks and increasing social cohesion. And yet, these practices have not been articulated in the research. In this roundtable, we seek to explore what the urban means in the context of environmental peacebuilding, and how the natural and built environment come together in conflict situations and peacebuilding efforts. This Roundtable serves as a launching pad for the new Urban Interest Group and broader conversation around urban-environmental peacebuilding. As part of the roundtable, we will present a systematic review study of research on environmental peacebuilding in urban contexts and discuss both policy and research implications of our findings. Together with invited discussants, the roundtable participants will explore further the intersection of peacebuilding’s urban and environmental dimensions and jointly with the audience develop a research agenda for future engagement on urban-environmental peacebuilding.

Shaping Safer and Resilient Cities: Launch of Policy Brief on Urban Climate Peace and Security

Matti Lehtonen, UN Environment (UNEP)/Climate Security Mechanism (Finland/United States)

Laura Peters, Oregon State University (United States)

Hector Camilo Morales Munoz, adelphi (Germany)