Global Commons Alliance’s Post

I feel inspired by my first week as a Peace and Security #Scholar with the OSCE. It's truly inspiring to see the organization not only recognize but actively address the intertwining challenges of climate change, environmental security, and human stability. During a groundbreaking high-level conference this year, discussions highlighted how climate-induced disparities could intensify competition for resources, trigger migration, and exacerbate tensions. Something which until now was not recognized by a security organization. The OSCE's commitment to fostering multilateral cooperation to manage these risks showcases a proactive approach to integrating environmental concerns into security frameworks. This aligns perfectly with the vision outlined in the OSCE Ministerial Council Declaration on Environment and Security, underscoring the vital role of sustainable practices in promoting peace and security across the region. It's great for me to learn that these crucial conversations have already began at the highest level and multilateral cooperation is progressing, regardless of how slow it may seem to the climate resilience sector. I look forward to more exciting learnings as the course progresses! #OSCE #ClimateSecurity #Peacebuilding

Check out my newest article in the Diplomatic Pouch!

14 of the 25 countries that are considered the most vulnerable to environmental degradation and climate change are also currently experiencing conflict and violence. Land degradation, nature loss, extractive processes and rising temperatures all heighten the risk of conflict. Meanwhile, conflicts have dire environmental consequences, including massive CO2 emissions; the destruction of biodiversity; air, soil and water pollution; and many other long lasting devastating legacies. Conflict cannot be separated from the Earth systems crisis. And as the climate crisis worsens, so will conflicts globally. It is in this (let’s be honest - chilling) context, that the resolution passed last week by UNEA-6 on environmental assistance and recovery in areas affected by armed conflict is SO important. To both minimise the environmental destruction of conflict, and drive adaption to climate change in order to provide greater opportunities for peace, the work of organisations like International Institute for Sustainable Development, Conflict and Environment Observatory, The Center for Climate and Security and Planetary Security Initiative will become even more valuable. As will voices such as The Elders Foundation, who are helping to break down siloes to tackle the biggest threats of our time. Please support their work and let’s ensure the complexities of these issues don’t stop us from engaging and taking action. 

🚨 NEW report - Research Briefing: An Analysis of Responses to an Open Call for Evidence on Security in the UK 📣 From April to July 2023, we conducted research on people's views of UK security with the Centre for Trust, Peace & Social Relations (CTPSR) and David Curran The briefing reveals 3 key themes emerging: 1⃣ The threat of climate change is ever present 2⃣ Individual Economic Security is fundamental 3⃣ There is an identified crisis of confidence in governance Read our findings 👇 https://lnkd.in/d53MzngG

How does UK climate policy tie into UK security policy? With a general election on the horizon & evolving security dynamics pulling policymakers & politicians in different directions, we spoke to two experts to hear their insights on UK security policy: https://lnkd.in/d-nyug6w

A fragmented world needs a common path forward. This September’s Summit of the Future represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to come together to tackle the challenges of today and safeguard #OurCommonFuture. https://bit.ly/SotF2024

The Geopolitical situation of the international community has greatly influenced the geostrategic nature of the world into the Global North and South with evidence of diverse issues of development, governance and conflicts. Our reflection on the interest of humanity serve as key focus to harness new knowledge and skills to foster mutually bilateral and multilateral corporations for the growth and prosperity of our communities and countries to ensure peace and security while acknowledging proper management of our environment

What an incredible discussion about climate and national security we had at Georgetown University Law Center last Thursday. It was truly an honor and privilege to work with Lydia Slobodian, Todd Huntley and Mark Nevitt to put this together and to deliver a call to action speech. We stand at a critical nexus for action and growth in our national security apparatus to rise to the challenges of the 21st century. Our domestic panel on climate and security was moderated by the impressive Alice Hill who set the stage with the imperative to act. Hearing what our navy and army are doing to rise to the moment from Deborah Loomis and Will Rogers gave me confidence in the efforts and intelligence of the people leading our armed forces to adapt/reduce harm in the era of a changing climate. John Conger brought us down to earth on the cost that this transition will take and the under funding our military is currently facing to modernize. The cost of fossil fuels in forward deployments isn’t measured in just money and emission but also US lives. No US forces should ever die defending fuel supply chains when we can use renewable resources. Going renewable will save soldiers lives. On the international panel moderated by Mark Nevitt law professor and former navy pilot touched on the international security risks we face due to climate change. The rise of terrorism in Syria due to resource scarcity was highlighted by Marcus King PhD. Erin Sikorsky highlighted the major displacement of people we are poised to see and the necessary diplomatic approach to dealing with the forthcoming reality. Carl Bruch identified the critical nature of dealing with petro states and how the just transition must allot for global development to preserve social order in these states. It was a brilliant discourse that covered a wide area beyond the scope of this synopsis but one thing is certain. Climate change is a threat to our national security. #nationalsecurity #climatechange

Today, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released its unclassified Annual Threat Assessment -- a few tidbits to note on #climatechange and #climatesecurity. To be honest, on first read, it's hard not to see these as a public step back for the US intelligence community on climate change. 1) Last year, the ATA included a "Climate Change and Environmental Degradation" section -- this year it's called "Environmental Change and Extreme Weather," though climate is still mentioned. Also, last year climate was a standalone section -- this year it's one of multiple issues under "shared domains," and a shorter insert. What's there is good, but it's missing any discussion of climate (or even energy) geopolitics. 2) The ATA is about the same length as last year (40 pages) with only 9 mentions of climate compared to last year's 26. Climate doesn't make as much of an appearance in the regional sections as it did last year. No mention of climate in the China section is particularly glaring, particularly in the paragraph on China's engagement with the Global South. 3) One notable exception is the integration of climate considerations in the Iran assessment -- the 2024 ATA states, "During the coming years, Iran also will be increasingly challenged by climate change as water becomes scarcer." Though why you would include it in Iran but not other regional or country sections is beyond me. I'll want to go back to the 2021 and 2022 ATAs for further comparison, but my initial view is disappointment. https://lnkd.in/efctSZDU

Al Gore: “The economic output is measured by an absurd and distorted set of universally accepted metrics that blinds us to the destructive consequences of the self-deceiving choices we are routinely making.” NATO’s choice for prioritising climate security is not random: the largest number of assistance requests NATO now receives are related to natural disasters. More and more countries are incorporating climate security plans into the national budgets and operations. Environmental degradation is accelerating climate change and natural disasters, amplified by the extraction of natural resources. Crime in the natural resource sector is continuing to escalate as competition for diminishing resources is attracting more circumvention of regulations and unlawful acts. Preserving, restoring, preventing, deterring, detecting while innovating, saving, changing our values and what success and growth mean are becoming the new normals. Earth is the only paradise we’ve got and we need to care for it more than for the economic gains. To truly live well, we actually need less while redistributing more. #UNODC #ICCWC #partners together #against environmental crime