Bridging the Gap between Peacebuilders and Environmentalists

May 29, 2023 | Tia Savarese
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Conflict, environmental threats and disasters, climate change, and food insecurity are often considered separate issues with separate solutions. These issues are, in actuality, all directly related and it is essential to remove the divisions between these fields to collaboratively create solutions. 

There is often a division between the environment, natural resource management, and climate, versus conflict and peacebuilding. According to Carl Bruch of the Environmental Law Institute, many peacebuilders have historically viewed environmental issues as an afterthought; to be considered after achieving peace. Similarly, many environmental workers fail to understand the nuances of conflict and peacebuilding. They seek to urgently pursue large-scale projects, such as those involving renewable energy, to combat carbon emissions. In many cases, they neglect to understand the potential negative impacts this could have on conflict-fragile countries completely reliant on fossil fuels.