Environmental Peacebuilding Association Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

Apr 21, 2020 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association
View Original

On Earth Day 2020, the Environmental Peacebuilding Association (EnPAx) will celebrate its 2^nd anniversary. We would like to take a moment and thank all of our Members and network of volunteers for their support and confidence in the Association.

Over these two years, the Association has grown rapidly. We now number 423 individual members and 17 institutional members in 62 countries. There are active Interest Groups for Africa, Big Data, Disasters and Resilience, Education, Forest Resources, Gender, Law, Monitoring and Evaluation, Water, and Young Professionals, with additional Interest Groups under development. In October 2019, EnPAx held the First International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding at UC Irvine, with enthusiastic participation by 250 professionals, researchers, and students from 40 countries.  Our massive open online course (MOOC) on Environmental Security & Sustaining Peace continues to engage people around the world.  In partnership with the Joint UN Programme on Women, Natural Resources, and Peace, we have launched the Knowledge Platform on Gender, Natural Resources, Climate, and Peace (https://www.gender-nr-peace.org/) and have produced 14 monthly newsletters (and counting!).  And we continue to grow the Environmental Peacebuilding Knowledge Platform (http://www.environmentalpeacebuilding.org/) and disseminate biweekly Environmental Peacebuilding Updates (now to more than 3,900 people).

There are a number of new directions that are underway as the Association continues to grow in size, scope, and impact:

• EnPAx is seeking to enhance its diversity and engagement, including plans for regional representation on its Board of Directors
• EnPAx is working to increase its online presence and help people stay connected during the Covid-19 global emergency with webinars hosted by the Interest Groups as well as offering chapters from the MOOC on Environmental Security and Sustaining Peace in its online Library. 
• We are developing a peer-reviewed journal on environment and security.  
• We are starting to plan for the Second International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding.
• EnPAx is working with institutional partners to develop opportunities to bring together members of the Association to develop new knowledge tools (subject to securing funding). 

During these challenging times, the Association continues to grow and have impact.  If you are not yet a member, please consider joining (https://environmentalpeacebuilding.org/membership/)!  If you are a member, consider how you might get involved.  As always, if you have questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us at association@environmentalpeacebuilding.org.