Issue #335 – Nov 10, 2026

Announcements

Call for Abstracts — Symposium on Environmental Peacebuilding in Mountain Areas: Bio-cultural Diversity and the Arts of Living on Damaged Slopes

October 13, 2026 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association and Unit for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Innsbruck

The Environmental Peacebuilding Association (EnPAx) and the Unit for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Innsbruck invite abstracts for a three-day symposium on environmental peacebuilding in mountain areas.

On Climate Change and Security: Call for Applications for the 2027 Young Leaders Summer Academy

German Institute for Global and Area Studies | Leibniz-Institut für Globale und Regionale Studien

The 2027 Young Leaders Summer Academy invites future leaders from the Middle East and Europe to engage with one of today’s most pressing challenges: the climate-security nexus.

Events

For more upcoming events on environmental peacebuilding, please visit our online calendar of events.

"Talking Peace" Dialogue Series: Chinese Investments in East Africa: Maintaining Invisibility Amid Conflicts

December 10, 2026 Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, RPTU Friedensakademie, and UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security
online

Large-scale land-use changes—associated with development corridors, extractive industries, conservation initiatives as well as climate adaptation projects—profoundly reshape the social and political orders in which they unfold.

2026 United Nations Water Conference

December 8, 2026 - 2026-12-10 United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation is an essential end in itself and is also critical to progress on the 2030 Agenda as a whole.

Inaugural Environmental Peacebuilding Teaching Talk

November 18, 2026 EnPAx Education Interest Group
online

The Education Interest Group of the Environmental Peacebuilding Association (EnPAx) is starting a virtual series of Teaching Talks for those interested in approaches for teaching environmental peacebuilding.

COP31 Side Event | The Climate Costs of Military Spending: Emissions, Minerals and Diverted Finance

November 14, 2026 Conflict and Environment Observatory
Antalya, Turkey and online

Military spending is rapidly rising with direct and reverberating consequences for the climate, environment, economy and society.

"Talking Peace" Dialogue Series: Energy, Conservation and Climate Adaptation Projects: Infrastructures for Peace or Conflict Drivers?

November 12, 2026 Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, RPTU Friedensakademie, and UNU Institute for Environment and Human Security
online

Wind and oil energy projects, wildlife conservation efforts and climate adaptation projects are very different. However, the infrastructures that come with these projects also have some aspects in common.

Library

In the last two weeks, 17 new publications were added to our online library of materials on environmental peacebuilding. Here is a sampling of the new additions:

The Politics of Environmental Peacebuilding: Global Agendas, Advocacy Networks, and Domestic Policy Arenas

November 10, 2026 | Jacobo Grajales, Meryam El Bouhati, Benjamin Lévy, and Toni-Giovanni Pegurri,
IDEAS

This article examines how environmental conflict narratives emerge and are used in peacebuilding policies.

Resilience under Fire: The Gulf’s Food Security, Water Security and Business Continuity in Wartime (chapter in "The Gulf at War: Geopolitical, Defence and Geo-economic Dimensions")

November 10, 2026
International Institute for Strategic Studies

In the face of significant risks to their economic interests stemming from the United States’ and Israel’s war with Iran, the Gulf states have proved themselves resilient.

Critical Raw Materials in the Security–Sustainability Nexus: Fragmentation, Geopolitical Contestation and Accountability

November 10, 2026 | Maria-Therese Gustafsson, Jewellord T. Nem Singh, Almut Schilling-Vacaflor, and Erika Weinthal
Environment and Security

Critical raw materials have moved from the terrain of commercial exchange into that of national security, creating a rapidly expanding but fragmented governance landscape.

The Impacts of Military Activity and War on the Planet [Video]

November 10, 2026
INESC Coimbra

A roundtable discussion with four specialists that aims to uncover the effects of military activity on the environment, despite the absence of data that is kept secret to avoid public scrutiny.

Blue Diplomacy: Transboundary Efforts for Red Sea Coral Reefs

November 10, 2026 | Maoz Fine, Rina Kedem, Suleiman Halasah, and Ali Al-Sawalmih
Environmental Security - Historical and Geographical Perspectives

Coral reefs are biodiversity hotspots vital for marine life and human livelihoods.

WISEN-Ukraine: Tracking Four Years of Wartime Environmental Harm

November 10, 2026
Conflict and Environment Observatory

Four years of full-scale war have caused environmental harm across Ukraine that is widespread, severe and remarkably varied, and much of it will persist long after the fighting ends.

Water Governance under Conflict: Institutional and Operational Constraints in the Gaza Strip

November 10, 2026 | Samer Abuzerr and Basem Younes Abu Jray
Water International

Water governance in the Gaza Strip is severely constrained by protracted conflict, infrastructure destruction and institutional erosion. This qualitative study examines governance dynamics and service delivery challenges.

NATO and the Environment

November 10, 2026 | Emilie Blanchard and David A. Wirth
Environmental Law Reporter

As other multilateral fora such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Paris Agreement experience reduced political support and reduced policy efficacy, diversifying multilateral…

Persisting Acute Food Insecurity in Africa Tied to Conflict [Infographic]

November 4, 2026
Africa Center for Strategic Studies

Record levels of acute food insecurity persist in Africa due to ongoing conflicts and a series of economic shocks from the COVID pandemic to the constriction of maritime traffic that have kept food…

The Great Green Grab: Climate Extractivism and the New Resource Imperialism

November 1, 2026 | Philippe Le Billon
Oxford University

The spiraling climate crisis demands a rapid shift away from fossil fuels. But most current approaches to decarbonization rely on a dramatic expansion of resource extraction–exacerbating environmental degradation and deepening global inequalities.

Land Access and Use in Uganda’s Refugee Hosting Districts – What the Evidence Shows about the Inclusion of Women, Youth, and Persons with Disabilities

October 12, 2026
U-Learn Uganda

Equitable access to land is essential for strengthening livelihoods and self-reliance in Uganda’s refugee-hosting districts.

Jobs

Please visit our jobs page to view these positions and other job opportunities.

Germany (with remote options): Research Interns on Environmental Peacebuilding

November 10, 2026 | PRIF: Leibniz Peace Research Institute Frankfurt

The project Mapping Environmental Peacebuilding (MAP), led by Tobias Ide at the Peace Research Institute Frankfurt (PRIF), aims to develop a high-level synthesis of evidence on environmental peacebuilding.

Venezuela: Official WASH Shelter & Infrastructure - Carupano

November 9, 2026 | Danish Refugee Council

The Danish Refugee Council is one of the world’s leading humanitarian NGOs, working in more than 40 countries to provide adequate assistance and protection to refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, returnees, people…

Myanmar: Deputy Country Director Operations & Partnership (M/F) - Yangon

November 9, 2026 | Solidarités International

SI has been in Myanmar since 2008, first responding to the devastating Cyclone Nargis. In 2011 and 2012, SI expanded to new regions focusing on Livelihoods, Food Security, Shelter, and WASH sectors.

Philippines: Endline Survey(es)/Evaluation of the Advancing Climate-Resilient Livelihoods and Disaster Preparedness for Extreme Poor Families in BARMM Project

November 9, 2026 | Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief Worldwide is an international, faith-inspired non-governmental organization (NGO) that provides humanitarian relief and long-term development assistance to vulnerable communities worldwide.

Netherlands: Senior Officer - Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (Climate, Natural Resources and Peace)

November 9, 2026 | International Alert

This is an exciting opportunity to coordinate monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) activities across an impactful, international, multi-partner programme on water, peace and security.

Syria: Baseline Study Consultant

November 9, 2026 | Amal Organization for Relief and Development

This baseline study is commissioned, prior to project implementation, under the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) budget for development projects run by private organisations.

International News

In the last two weeks, 35 international news items on environmental peacebuilding were posted on our website. The following is a sampling:

Afghanistan: Kabul Water Crisis: Residents Say Wells Are Drying up and Water Costs Are Rising

November 8, 2026 | Mohammad Farhaad
Hasht-e-Subh Daily

A number of residents of Kabul city have expressed concern over the decline in groundwater levels and the worsening water shortage crisis in the city.

Iraq: Iraq Warned of Lasting Environmental Damage from Armed Conflicts

November 7, 2026
BasNews

Iraq’s Strategic Center for Human Rights has warned that armed conflicts continue to pose serious environmental threats, particularly through pollution caused by war remnants, landmines and toxic chemical substances.

November 7, 2026 | Salis bin Perwaiz
The News

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has warned that environmental destruction caused by wars and armed conflicts does not remain confined to the countries directly involved but also threatens neighbouring regions and…

November 6, 2026 — International Day for the Protection of the Environment in Times of War: History and Significance

November 6, 2026 | Єлизавета Баздирєва
ua.news

The International Day to Prevent the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict was established by the UN General Assembly on November 5, 2001.

Afghanistan/Mali/Ethiopia: Lessons in Implementing MHEWS in Fragile, Conflict- and Violence-Affected Contexts

November 6, 2026
UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, Climate Risk & Early Warning Systems Initiative

Experience from Afghanistan, Mali, the Somali region of Ethiopia and the multi-country Supporting Pastoralism and Agriculture in Recurrent and Protracted Crises (SPARC) research programme demonstrates that meaningful progress on multi-hazard early warning is…

Climate Security: How Can Adaptation Programmes Catch Conflict Risks Early?

November 5, 2026
CGIAR

The Climate Security Sensitivity Tool (CSST) helps programme teams compare local conflict risks with their adaptation plans, and field testing in Ghana and Mali shows why that first assessment must then be checked…

Colombia: Scaling Zero-Deforestation Monitoring for Sustainable Agricultural Supply Chains

November 4, 2026
CGIAR

By combining standardized verification tools, inclusive training, and public–private collaboration, CGIAR and its partners are helping Colombia strengthen agricultural traceability and create the conditions for scaling deforestation-free supply chains.

Water Wars: UNICEF Warns That Attacks on Water in War Zones Have Tripled

November 4, 2026
Demócrata

UNICEF denounces that attacks on water supply in conflict zones have tripled, worsening diseases and childhood malnutrition worldwide.

Afghanistan: Int’l Organisations to Align Future Aid with Afghanistan’s Environmental Priorities

November 3, 2026 | Hijratullah Kakar
Pajhwok Afghan News

The National Environmental Protection Authority (NEPA) has shared its priorities with donor organisations and international institutions, whose representatives have pledged to align their future assistance and cooperation with them.

DRC: The Congo as a Site of Capital Accumulation: Erik Prince and the Privatization of War

November 3, 2026 | Kribsoo Diallo
Progressive International

Erik Prince's Vectus Global has embedded itself in the DRC's mining heartland and serves U. S. imperial and corporate interests in critical minerals and violates the Congolese peoples' sovereignty.

Egypt/Ethiopia/Sudan: Egypt and Sudan Consider Compensation over Ethiopia's Nile Dam

November 2, 2026
Sada Elbalad English

A new water agreement between Egypt and Sudan has opened a wider chapter in the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), with both countries discussing possible compensation for damage they attribute…

Food Security/Livelihoods: New Index Tracks Countries’ Vulnerability to Conflict between Large and Small-Scale Fishers

November 2, 2026 | Edward Carver
Mongabay

Competition between small-scale fishers and industrial vessels can threaten food security and livelihoods in coastal communities, especially in the Global South.

DRC/Rwanda/United States: US Sanctions Rwanda's Defence Ministry over DR Congo Conflict

October 29, 2026
BBC

The United States has imposed sanctions on Rwanda's defence ministry over its alleged support for the M23 rebel group in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, increasing pressure on Kigali to withdraw its troops…

Ghana: Let’s Integrate Climate Risk Issues into National Security Policy — Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings

October 28, 2026 | Francisca Eshun
Graphic

The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called for climate risk to be integrated into national security and district development plans to prevent conflicts, displacement and violent extremism.

China/Hong Kong: China Vows Stronger Environmental Cooperation with HK

October 27, 2026
The Standard

China will further strengthen cooperation and exchanges with Hong Kong on ecological and environmental protection and the green transition, Minister of Ecology and Environment Huang Runqiu said on Tuesday.

Blogs & Opinion

In the last two weeks, 10 blogs & opinion pieces on environmental peacebuilding were posted on our website. Here is a sampling:

Faith, Climate, and Peace: Bringing Environmental Advocacy to Kansas City

November 6, 2026 | Jeffrey Jordan II

Peace Forum attendees included environmental activist Bill McKibben and hundreds of passionate advocates from across the world. The gathering provided a meaningful opportunity to connect faith, peacebuilding, and environmental stewardship.

COP31: What to Expect on Conflict, Climate and Militarism

November 5, 2026 | Ellie Kinney

COP31 aspires to be a ‘COP of implementation’ but with world leaders distracted by wars, protests and elections, opportunities for progress may be limited.

We Need to End the Conflict and Climate ‘Fragility Penalty’ That Is Stopping Nations Getting Help

November 4, 2026 | Liban Obsiye

Access to international finance, including climate finance, remains disproportionately difficult for fragile states – but the UK has a chance to make a much-needed change, writes Liban Obsiye, executive director of the Somali…

Fragile Progress: How COP31 Can Advance Climate Security

November 4, 2026 | Laís Clemente Pereira and Sarneet Kaur Saran

“Climate security is the new national security”, stated Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last September in New York, as his country was preparing to preside over the 31st Conference of the Parties to…

When El Niño Meets Fragility and Conflict: Can Emergency Seed Aid Build Resilience?

November 2, 2026 | Guush Berhane, Claudia Ringler, and Rewa Misra

Fragile and conflict-affected (FCA) countries face overlapping crises: climate volatility, violence and displacement, food insecurity, and weak institutions. The current “super” El Niño—so far the strongest on record—is now compounding these problems.

New Cluster Munition Action Plan Shows Continuing Momentum on Climate and Environment

November 2, 2026 | Jonathan Walsh and Anna McKean

Mine action activities are often conducted in countries especially vulnerable to climatic and other environmental risks.

The Environmental Risks from Attacks on Data Centres

October 27, 2026 | Eoghan Darbyshire

Data centres underpin our digital infrastructure, they house the servers and networking equipment that store and process our data, run AI models and transmit information around the world.

Join the Association

The Environmental Peacebuilding Association® (EnPAx®) is the leading global network that brings together practitioners, researchers, and decision makers working on environment, conflict, and peace. EnPAx includes both individual and institutional members. If you have any questions regarding membership, please contact us at membership@environmentalpeacebuilding.org.

Sharing and Posting Materials

The strength of the knowledge platform depends on submissions and suggestions on contents from users. To share publications and information on events, job opportunities, and other announcements, please contact share@environmentalpeacebuilding.org. Please also feel free to share ideas on how the platform can be further improved to meet your needs.

About Our Community of Practice

Environmental Peacebuilding is a knowledge platform and global community of practice on natural resources, conflict, and peace, hosted by the Environmental Peacebuilding Association. The platform unites a global network of researchers, practitioners, and decision makers in sharing experiences and lessons from managing natural resources in fragile states and conflict-affected settings. The platform also helps people to access new publications on the topic, conduct new research, and participate in events to support the growth of the field. As part of our Community of Practice, we bring you biweekly updates on recent developments, including news about our program as well as links to new publications, upcoming conferences and events, and job openings.

Please visit us at www.environmentalpeacebuilding.org for more information.

Changing your email address? Remember to update your member profile and let us know at membership@environmentalpeacebuilding.org.

Compiled by Buket Altınçelep, Maria Camilla Cadonici, Morgan Dreibelbis, Liz Hessami, Muwei Jiang, Delaney Laffler, Caroline Logan, and Caroline Ronveaux
Coordinated by Andy Zhang
Design by Graham Campbell
Managed and edited by Carl Bruch and Joel Young