Issue #313 – Jan 6, 2026

Announcements

Environmental Peacebuilding: 2025 in Review

January 6, 2026 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association

Dear friends and colleagues,

There are many ways to describe 2025 for the environmental peacebuilding community. Brutal. Painful. Scary. Demoralizing. It was all that, and more.

Applications for Travel Grants for the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding (DEADLINE: 22 January 2026)

January 5, 2026 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association

Travel grants for Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding aim to increase the diversity of voices at the conference, with a particular focus on enabling the participation of students, individuals from or residing…

Registration for the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding Is Now Open

December 23, 2025 | Environmental Peacebuilding Association and University of Ottawa

The Environmental Peacebuilding Association® (EnPAx®) and the University of Ottawa are delighted to announce that registration for the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding is now open.

Events

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

Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding

June 16, 2026 - 2026-06-19 Environmental Peacebuilding Association and University of Ottawa
Ottawa, Canada and online

The Environmental Peacebuilding Association® (EnPAx®) and the University of Ottawa are delighted to announce that the Fourth International Conference on Environmental Peacebuilding will be held on June 16-19, 2026.

Peace with the Land: Reconciliation, Environmental Peacebuilding, and Indigenous Environmental Stewardship in Canada (Turtle Island) (A Path to Ottawa Event)

February 11, 2026 University of Ottawa and Environmental Peacebuilding Association
Ottawa, Canada

The objective of the event is to facilitate an interdisciplinary dialogue around Indigenous environmental stewardship, reconciliation, and environmental peacebuilding in the settler-colonial context (Turtle Island (Canada)), thus generating insights relevant to the Environmental…

Environmental Peacebuilding in Transboundary River Catchments (A Path to Ottawa Event)

February 10, 2026 Environmental Peacebuilding Association
online

Climate change is fueling human conflicts around the world. Degradation of ecosystems, including land and water resources, has forced mass migration among communities, both within nations and internationally.

Nonviolent Strategies for Defending Indigenous Land in the Philippines, Indonesia and Bolivia (A Path to Ottawa Event)

February 3, 2026 Academy for Conflict Transformation within Pro Peace
online

In this two-hour roundtable Dorthea Wabiser from Indonesia, Edward Intang Abelardo from the Philippines and Alex Villca from Bolivia will present the backgrounds, conflicts and strategies of the indigenous communities facing intense pressure…

Advancing Environmental Peacebuilding in Practice (A Path to Ottawa Event)

January 29, 2026 ConnexUs
online

Environmental peacebuilding offers a systems-informed framework to address the complex linkages among the environment, conflict, and fragility. While natural resources can fuel conflict, they also present powerful entry points for peacebuilding.

Environmental Peacebuilding: The Year in Review and the Year Ahead

January 28, 2026 Environmental Peacebuilding Association
online

Please join us for our annual Year in Review and the Year Ahead Webinar during which we will discuss the global developments in Environmental Peacebuilding during 2025 and the things to look forward…

Virtual Conservation Conflict Transformation (CCT) Introduction / Refresher

January 22, 2026 Center for Conservation Peacebuilding
online

Join CPeace for a special two-hour, pay-what-you-can session - perfect for those curious to explore CCT for the first time, or for past participants looking to reconnect and refresh.

Assessing Environmental Impacts in Gaza: Insights from UNEP's Report (A Path to Ottawa Event)

January 21, 2026 EnPAx Transitional Justice Interest Group
online

The EnPAx Transitional Justice Interest Group is pleased to invite you to an online panel discussion on the environmental impacts of the conflict in Gaza.

Sustainability Funding Promotes Peace in Iran (A Path to Ottawa Event)

January 14, 2026 Environmental Peacebuilding Association
online

POSTPONED

This session will focus on the role of developed countries in peace building, especially by promoting environmental sustainability.

Library

In the last two weeks, 1 new publication was added to our online library of materials on environmental peacebuilding.

No Health without Peace

January 3, 2026
The Lancet

What will be the most pressing health challenge of 2026? Climate change? Artificial intelligence? Pandemics? Non-communicable diseases? These issues will continue to shape health and medicine.

Jobs

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

Burundi: JPO - Project Officer (Migration, Environment and Climate Change) - (Belgian Nationals only)

January 5, 2026 | International Organization for Migration

Established in 1951, IOM is a Related Organization of the United Nations, and as the leading UN agency in the field of migration, works closely with governmental, intergovernmental and non-governmental partners.

DRC: Experte ou Expert Plaidoyer

January 3, 2026 | Action contre la Faim France

Founded in 1979, Action Against Hunger is an international non-governmental organization that fights hunger worldwide.

CAR: Directrice ou Directeur Pays

January 2, 2026 | Action contre la Faim France

Créée en 1979, Action contre la Faim est une organisation non gouvernementale internationale qui lutte contre la faim dans le monde.

International News

In the last two weeks, 21 international news items on environmental peacebuilding were posted on our website. The following is a sampling:

Sudan: Heglig Oil Deal ‘Highlights Economic Drivers behind Sudan’s War’

January 6, 2026
Dabanga

As the new year began, the United States set a deadline for Sudan’s warring parties to reach a humanitarian truce, aiming to open safe corridors, protect civilians, and pave the way for a…

Venezuela: Trump Rejects Comparisons between Iraq, Venezuela: ‘We’re Going to Keep the Oil’

January 6, 2026 | Julia Manchester
The Hill

President Trump on Monday dismissed comparisons between past US involvement in Iraq and the recent military operation in Venezuela, saying the difference is that the Trump administration plans to keep the seized oil…

DRC: DR Congo Partially Lifts Suspension on Copper-Cobalt Processing after Compliance Review

January 6, 2026
Xinhua

The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) announced a partial and temporary lifting of the suspension on copper and cobalt processing activities, following the completion of a compliance review in the southeastern mineral-rich…

Afghanistan: UNICEF Rehabilitates Water Supply Systems in Deprived Areas of Afghanistan

January 5, 2026
Hasht-e-Subh Daily

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced the launch of a program to rehabilitate water supply systems in deprived areas of Afghanistan, aiming to improve children’s access to clean drinking water.

Sudan: War in Sudan: Drone Strikes Cut Power Supply in Oil-Rich South

January 4, 2026
Agence France-Presse

The power supply was cut on Sunday following drone strikes in the Sudanese city of El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state, the national electricity company said, as fighting raged in the oil-rich…

Libya: Libya’s 2025 Oil Revenues in Region of $22 Billion

January 3, 2026
African Press Agency

Libya’s oil revenues for 2025 reached $21. 9 billion, marking a 15% increase compared to the preceding year, according to data released by the Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) on January 1.

Aggressive Wars Lead to Environmental Crimes

January 2, 2026
Khmer Times

Aggressive wars, using military force to violate the territorial integrity of another sovereign state, are not only violations of human rights and international law, but also crimes against the environment.

Liberia: Liberia Plans $39 Million Mining Investment to Target $3 Billion a Year in Revenue

January 2, 2026 | Emiliano Tossou
Ecofin Agency

Liberia plans to make mining and energy a key source of public revenue, seeking to generate more than $3 billion a year from natural resources under a new 2025-2029 strategy, the government said.

Afghanistan: Afghanistan Launches New Phase of Riverbank Protection Project in Takhar Province

January 2, 2026
Xinhua

Afghanistan's Ministry of Energy and Water has launched a new phase of the riverbank protection project worth 81. 5 million afghanis (over 1.

Afghanistan: Residents Clash with Taliban Members over Gold Mining Operation in Takhar

January 2, 2026
Afghanistan International

Residents of a district in northern Afghanistan clashed with Taliban members on Friday after a Taliban-linked company moved into a residential area to begin gold mining operations, local sources told Afghanistan International.

Afghanistan: Gold Plunder and the Suppression of Civilians: What Is Happening in Badakhshan?

January 2, 2026 | Amin Kawa
Hasht-e-Subh Daily

Local sources in Badakhshan say the Taliban have intensified the illegal extraction and looting of gold mines across the province.

Israel/Palestine: UN Chief Condemns Israeli Law Blocking Electricity, Water for UNRWA Facilities

January 1, 2026
New Arab

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned on Wednesday a move by Israel to ban electricity or water to facilities owned by the UN Palestinian refugee agency, a UN spokesperson said.

Blogs & Opinion

In the last two weeks, 3 blogs & opinion pieces on environmental peacebuilding were posted on our website.

The Grammar of Rivers: Choosing Cooperation over Conflict in the Indus

January 6, 2026 | Rajeev Kumar Jha

Geography and its ecosystems uniquely shape the connections and boundaries that define regions.

South Sudan: Oil Money without Consequences: Why the US Call Will Not Move South Sudan’s Regime

January 2, 2026 | Duop Chak Wuol

The US Embassy’s New Year statement on South Sudan’s oil revenues, as reported by Radio Tamazuj, is framed as a principled appeal for peace, accountability, and social responsibility.

Weaponising Water: India’s Brazen Breach of the Indus Waters Treaty

January 2, 2026 | Majid Nabi Burfat

Weaponizing water is tantamount to an act of war— not because of rhetoric, but because water sustains life, food, energy and social stability.

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, Karishma Goswami, Amelie L'Henaff, Liz Hessami, Madeleine Loll, Kathleen McLean, Avery Thau, and Milen Yishak
Coordinated by Mara Pusic
Design by Graham Campbell
Managed and edited by Carl Bruch and Joel Young