Environmental Peacebuilding – A Quick Look at Leading Organizations

1. Environmental Environmental Peacebuilding Leading Leading Organizations Organizations Peacebuilding – – A A Quick Quick Look Look at at Climate Action and Environmental Peacebuilding aim to tackle degradation caused by direct or indirect human activity that is impacting societies around the world. In particular, without good governance and government efforts to prepare for mitigation, those impacts will be compounded even further in countries. For instance, extended droughts, stronger storms, deforestation, desertification, topsoil erosion are just some of the changes leading to scarcities of water, food, biomass, etc. As a result, these events apply pressure to the stability of communities and drive migration. Moreover, they can trigger, escalate or sustain conflicts. To address conflict in a transformative way towards lasting peace, peacebuilding can be defined as: “measures targeted to reduce the risk of lapsing or relapsing into conflict by strengthening national capacities at all levels for conflict management and to lay the foundation for sustainable peace and development . . . by addressing the deep-rooted, structural causes of violent conflict in a comprehensive manner” The United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations Historically, peacebuilding efforts have mainly focused on social and economic issues. However, this perspective omits environmental degradation and the environmental impact of conflicts and military activities amid derived humanitarian consequences for affected societies. For this reason, environmental peacebuilding incorporates natural resource management into peacebuilding activities. Those strategies seek to support security, humanitarian, and development objectives to avoid the vicious circle in which conflicts cause environmental problems that later fuel and trigger more conflicts. The organizations here are engaged with the academic and policymaker community to share experiences and lessons from integrating natural resource management in conflict-affected areas in conflict prevention, mitigation, resolution, and recovery to build resilience in communities

2. affected by it. In other words, their research and field activities work for a robust Environmental Peacebuilding hub to promote environmentally friendly peace. Selected organizations: Environmental Peacebuilding Association (2018; Washington) A global network of “practitioners, researchers, decisionmakers, and students passionate about environmental peacebuilding.” Thus, its goals are: foster knowledge development and exchange; build capacity and awareness; and strengthen relationships between the scholar and professional communities working on issues related to environment, conflict, and peace. Staff: 11 Adelphi (2001; Berlin) An independent think tank and international public policy consultancy on climate, environment, and development. Its Peace and Security section includes a specialized topic of Resources and Conflict. Further, it offers consultancy, research, and training services to “use conflict-sensitive approaches and to develop programmes that handle environmental and peace development as early as the initial stages in an integrated manner.” Staff: 159 Alliance for Peacebuilding (2003; Washington) A network of over 100 organizations. Aims to “bring together coalitions in key areas of strategy and policy to elevate the entire peacebuilding field, tackling issues too large for any one organization to address alone.” Therefore, their work is based on “a systems approach to peacebuilding that connects multiple sectors.” Staff: 22 staff and fellows Conflict and Environment Observatory (2017; West Yorkshire, UK) A charity working with international organizations, civil society, academia, and communities “to ensure that the environmental consequences of armed conflicts and military activities are properly documented and addressed and that those affected are assisted.” Staff: 5 Center for Conservation Peacebuilding (2006; Washington) A consulting organization advocating that “social conflicts related to conservation issues are severe obstacles to wildlife conservation efforts   

3. and local communities’ way of life.” Hence, applies conservation conflict transformation (CCT) theory, skills, processes, and strategies to address such conflicts. International Institute for Sustainable Development (1990; Winnipeg, Canada) An independent think tank championing sustainable solutions to 21st- century problems. Researches sustainable development to foster innovation, enabling societies to live sustainably. Particularly, its library contains high-quality research covering the Environment, Conflict, and Peacebuilding intersection. Staff: ~120 Environmental Law Institute (1969; Washington) A “non-partisan research and education center to strengthen environmental protection by improving law and governance worldwide.” At the moment, it serves as the Secretariat for the Environmental Peacebuilding Association. While improving Natural Resource Management in Post-Conflict Countries, it has been conducting a project to engage practitioners and scholars to “develop a roadmap for strengthening post-conflict natural resource management and peacebuilding.” The latter has been managed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the University of Tokyo, and the Specialist Group on Armed Conflict and the Environment of the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law. Staff: ~60 United States Institute of Peace (1984, Washington) A “national, nonpartisan, independent institute” working “with local partners to prevent, mitigate, and resolve violent conflict to reduce future crises and the need for costly interventions.” Besides, does this by linking “research, policy, training, analysis, and direct action to support those who are working to build a more peaceful, inclusive world.” Recently, it gave eight grants to promote research and project development in Environment, Conflict, and Peacebuilding. Those organizations were: Environmental Law Institute (Washington). Indigenous Movement for Peace Advancement and Conflict Transformation (Nanyuki, Kenya). International Rescue Committee (New York). Oregon State University (Corvallis, OR). The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong). 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

4. Universidad del Rosario (Bogotá, Colombia). University of Sheffield (Sheffield, England). World Peace Foundation (Somerville, MA). The Environment, Conflict, and Peacebuilding Competition winners received a maximum of $300,000 to advance their capacity-building projects. It conducts its project USIP Local Funding for Peace in Pakistan. Additionally, the Peace and Conflict Research Fund sponsors research governance and public policy issues, including natural resources extraction, water- and energy service delivery, and associated conflict management practices. Staff: 85 International Alert (1986; London) An international peacebuilding organization working “with local people around the world to help them better understand conflict and build peace.” In addition, its publications repository has many case studies about natural resource management and conflict resolution sourced from practitioners due to its notable presence in the field. Staff: 279 Energy Peace Partners (2017; Sausalito, CA) An organization that “leverages economic and climate solutions to support peace in the world’s most fragile regions.” Above all, it works towards paradigm shift through transformative clean energy transitions in conflict and crisis settings. Staff: 10 EcoPeace Middle East (1994; Tel Aviv) A project-oriented NGO that brings together Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli environmentalists. For this reason, their primary objective is the promotion of cooperative efforts to protect their shared environmental heritage. Hence, seeks “to advance sustainable regional development and create necessary conditions for lasting peace in the region.” Staff: ~40 Earth Institute (1995; New York) A research institute founded to advance the basic understanding of earth science and apply that knowledge to decisions made by governments and businesses around the world. Likewise, its Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity (AC4) conducts a specialized research program on Environment, Peace, and Sustainability focused “around local resource governance and conflict 6. 7. 8.

5. management, generating knowledge and practice around environmental conflict resolution and peacebuilding.” Environmental Peacebuilding as an answer for the environmental challenges towards peace It is not surprising that developing countries where people depend on subsistence agriculture tend to be the most affected by armed conflicts and environmental degradation. Similarly, natural resources are often overexploited due to the conflict parties’ material necessities, causing grievances over them and their revenues contributing to the conflict’s onset and continuation. According to Environmental Peacebuilding Association, the “peace following resource-related conflicts is fragile: countries with past resource-related conflicts are more likely to relapse and do so twice as quickly.” To achieve peace, land, forests, minerals, oil, water, and other resources are essential for rebuilding communities and economies. To sum up, as a rising multidisciplinary subfield, environmental peacebuilding needs to identify research programs and best policy practices, fostering knowledge and data exchange. The organizations above aim to build capacity and awareness among practitioners to advance the field. Further, by increase impact, encouraging interactions among scholars, practitioners, decision-makers, and others across disciplines, genders, geographical locations, and professional development stages.