IPT Specialization Course on Environmental Peacebuilding
A comprehensive course on the climate, peace and security nexus
Climate change and environmental degradation affect human security in diverse and intersecting ways and often amplify conflicts as well as humanitarian crises. Forced migration, internal displacement, and loss of livelihoods and infrastructure caused by extreme weather events such as floods and droughts as well as competition over scarce natural resources can contribute to political and social instability, increase pre-existing inequalities, and challenge communities’ resilience and peaceful co-existence. At the same time, the universal and shared threat of climate change and environmental degradation, as well as natural resource management, can offer entry points for collective and inclusive peacebuilding initiatives. Environmental peacebuilding recognizes that cooperation on environmental and climate issues can play an important role in preventing and dealing with conflicts, while also paying attention to the environmental impact of peacebuilding interventions.
Learning Objectives
The IPT Specialization Course on Environmental Peacebuilding is a comprehensive course that will be offered from 23 November - 2 December 2024 in Stadtschlaining and focuses on the environment/climate, peace, and security nexus. Throughout the course participants will engage in intercative discussions, group work and exercises to:
- Get familiar with the concept of environmental peacebuilding.
- Enhance their understanding of the complex interlinkages between climate, peace, and security as well as the need for integrated multi-stakeholder approaches.
- Understand how climate change and environmental degradation can act as threat multipliers or drivers of conflicts and learn how to integrate environmental and climate factors into conflict analysis.
- Identify ways to leverage the environment for peacebuilding initiatives and how to understand the environment as a “connector” rather than a divider.
- Develop the necessary knowledge and skills to apply a climate lens to different aspects of peacebuilding work and internalize an environmental do no harm approach.
Course language: English
Target group
- Professionals working with multilateral organisations, I/NGOs, local grassroot organisations, civil society, academia, or government institutions.
- Practitioners and academics who want to reflect and expand their knowledge and skills in an international and interdisciplinary group-setting.
- People who serve as multipliers in their countries and communities and pass on the knowledge and skills acquired in the course.
Requirements
A good command of English is a prerequisite and intermediate experience and skills in the practical and/or academic field of peacebuilding are strongly preferred and encouraged.
