Blogs & Opinions

Climate Change is a National Security Issue - But Not for the Reasons You Think

Dec 16, 2015 | Neil Berg and Nick Burger

The connection between climate change, conflict, and U.S. national security is receiving increasing attention from political analysts, government agencies, and even the White House. At…

How we can Link our Responses to Conflict and Climate Change

Dec 15, 2015 | Janani Vivekananda

Last week saw the most significant climate change agreement of our lifetimes. After 21 years of wrangling, world leaders finally managed to reach a deal…

Taking Back the Narrative on Dodd-Frank’s Conflict Minerals Provision

Dec 15, 2015 | Per-Olof Loof

I recently had the privilege to testify before the House Financial Services Committee’s Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee (Nov. 17, 2015). The hearing was held…

Iraq’s Economic Reform for 2016

Dec 13, 2015 | Luay Al-Khatteeb

In August 2015, Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi introduced reforms to shrink the size of the government and tackle corruption. Luay Al Khatteeb Founding Director…

SEC Takes Long-Awaited Step to Combat Rampant Corruption in the Oil, Gas and Mining Industry

Dec 11, 2015 | Zorka Milin and Corinna Gilfillan

Today the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced a strong proposed rule to implement a landmark transparency law which requires US-listed oil, gas and mining companies…

The EITI and Commodities Trading Transparency: Where Are We Headed?

Dec 10, 2015 | Nicholas Garrett

For the past 2 years RCS Global has been advising Trafigura on its journey to become the commodities trading industry leader on transparency. With developments…

Deepening Australia’s Regional Relationships through Climate Security

Dec 10, 2015 | Robert Sturrock

Climate change undermines regional human security, with inaction breeding greater insecurity. Conventional wisdom about Australia’s geography is that we are uniquely located to capitalise on…

Moving Beyond The Jurisdiction Victory In West Philippine Sea

Dec 10, 2015 | Lucio Blanco Pitlo III

The October 29 decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration stating that it has jurisdiction over the case initiated by the Philippines against China was…

Oil Fuels War and Terrorists Like ISIS: The Climate Movement Can Bring Peace

Dec 9, 2015 | Rebecca Solnit

Greed for petroleum has produced plenty of war. War can be defined narrowly, as conflict between nations, or broadly, as large-scale violence in pursuit of…

The “Water Wars” Trap

Dec 9, 2015 | Josh Newton

As negotiations at the Paris climate conference head into the final, critical stage, a piece of pop wisdom is coming to a boil: “They say…

The U.S. Asia-Pacific Rebalance, National Security, and Climate Change

Dec 8, 2015 | Schuyler Null and Deepshri Mathur

In the hierarchy of global and national security challenges, climate change comes out near the top, said a panel of distinguished defense, diplomacy, and intelligence…

Prof. Marc Levy Answers Public's Questions on Climate Change, Security

Dec 7, 2015 | School of Professional Studies

Prof. Marc Levy, Deputy Director of the Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) and faculty member of the Certification of Professional Achievement in…

Afghanistan’s Elusive Mineral Wealth

Dec 7, 2015 | Elizabeth B. Hessami

Afghanistan is blessed with a veritable horde of mineral wealth. In copper alone, Afghanistan may possess up to 60 million tons buried in its arid…

Environmental Protection and Non-State Armed Groups: Setting a Place at the Table for the Elephant in the Room

Dec 4, 2015 | Jonathan Somer

In this blog, consultant Jonathan Somer begins to explore the terra incognita of current efforts to strengthen legal protection for the environment in relation to armed…

Water, Wars and an Uncertain Future

Dec 2, 2015 | Sundeep Waslekar

In its Blue Peace report, published in February 2011, Strategic Foresight Group proposed several solutions to use water as an instrument of peace and prosperity…

Climate Change Is a National Security Problem

Dec 1, 2015 | Chuck Hagel

It is remarkable that French security forces are taking on the international climate change conference in Paris in the shadow of the recent attacks. Then,…

The ECC Factbook Illustrates How the Environment Can Contribute to Peace and Conflict

Nov 30, 2015 | Johannes Ackva & Benjamin Pohl

In his speech on climate change and national security on November 10, Secretary of State John Kerry said climate change is already a “threat multiplier,”…

Why It’s Time for a Free Kurdistan

Nov 27, 2015 | Aliza Marcus and Andrew Apostolou

It’s time to stop debating whether or not the Kurds deserve an independent state. There are around 40 million Kurds across Turkey, Iraq, Iran, and…

House Hearing on Conflict Minerals Rule: A Mixed Bag

Nov 27, 2015 | Cydney Posner

At a hearing last week before a subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee, the members heard testimony regarding the Dodd-Frank conflict minerals provision. The Chair expressed…

Nigeria's Oil Curse

Nov 25, 2015 | Hilary Matfess

On Nov. 8, the head of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, announced that the state-run company was on the verge of a major oil…

Will Low Oil Prices Increase Internal Instability In Conflict Countries?

Nov 25, 2015 | Ryan Opsal

With over 1.6 million internally displaced in South Sudan, and another 600,000 refugees in neighboring countries, are oil price declines exacerbating humanitarian crises in oil-producing African countries,…

Ex-CIA Chief: Fear for Environment Stays US Hand on ISIS Oil Wells

Nov 25, 2015 | Bradford Richardson

A former CIA director says concerns about environmental impact have prevented the White House from bombing oil wells that finance the Islamic State in Iraq…

RFS is Crucial to National Security

Nov 24, 2015 | Jon Soltz

As a veteran, I’ve witnessed fellow servicemen and servicewomen risk life and limb over oil interests in hostile regions, all so we can feed our…

Will a Welcome Peace Derail Colombia’s Sustainable Development Plans?

Nov 23, 2015 | Rocio Rodriguez Granados

In August 2012, Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos began negotiations with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, also known as the People’s Army, or FARC,…

How Bad Will this El Niño Be? Worse Than You May Think

Nov 20, 2015 | Marc Levy

This week the Earth Institute’s International Research Institute on Climate and Society convened a 2-day workshop reflecting on efforts over the past 20 years to improve responses…

Let's Face It, Supply Chain Transparency Is Not Going Away

Nov 20, 2015 | Justmeans

Supply chain transparency is not going away. Consumers want to know where the products they buy come from. Companies will have to disclose more supply…

Water Wars: Maritime Disputes Feature Prominently during International Summit Circuit

Nov 20, 2015 | Zack Bluestone

By week’s end, the major players in the South and East China Sea will have participated in three separate international conferences touching on tensions in…

Will Everything Change in Conflict Minerals Reporting Year Three?

Nov 19, 2015 | Alexandria Bennett

On Tuesday, The Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee of the US House of Representatives Committee on Financial Services held a hearing entitled “Dodd-Frank Five Years…

Rwanda a Conflict-Free Mineral Country - Govt

Nov 19, 2015 | James Karuhanga

Rwanda must be considered as a conflict-free mineral country, the Minister of State in charge of Mining, Evode Imena, told the US House of Representatives.…

The Right Way to Think about Climate Change and National Security

Nov 19, 2015 | David Roberts

Thanks to some comments by Bernie Sanders in the last Democratic debate, the question of whether climate change is a national security threat has once again bubbled…