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Environment, Development, and Sustainable Peace: Finding Paths To Environmental Peacemaking

ECSP cosponsors a conference featuring Pekka Haavisto, Tom Spencer, and other environmental security experts at Britain's Wilton Park, one of the world's leading centers for the discussion of international issues, from September 16-19.

ECSP Director Geoffrey Dabelko, along with Environment, Development, and Sustainable Peace collaborators Alexander Carius (Adelphi Research) and Alexander Lopez (National University of Costa Rica), will kick off a four-day meeting at Britain's Wilton Park, one of the world's leading centers for the discussion of international issues. Participants will try to illuminate the path to peacemaking by answering these questions:

  • What can we learn from a decade of intensive analysis and debate about "environmental security"?
  • How do the North and South view the challenges differently?
  • What are positive examples of environmental peacemaking between neighboring countries?
  • How can we assure funding for promising initiatives?
  • How can we coordinate environmental, developmental, and peace objectives?
  • What lessons can we learn from exemplary case studies on water, forests, and minerals?

    The conference will deliberately emphasize positive theories and examples to counter the persistent focus on negative linkages among threats to the environment, development, and peace. Participants—including international policymakers, experts, and representatives of corporations and NGOs—will discuss initiatives by government, business, and civil society that join the issues in a "virtuous circle."

    Speakers and Sessions

  • Hilary Benn (DFID) will discuss environmental and developmental policies that encourage sustainable peace.
  • Klaus Topfer (UNEP) has been invited to describe how sustainable development can turn environmental conflict into cooperation.
  • Pekka Haavisto (UNEP) will argue that environmentally friendly post-conflict reconstruction can help war-torn countries find peace.
  • International experts—like Anthony Turton (University of Pretoria), Patricia Kameri-Mbote (University of Nairobi), and Doris Capistrano (CIFOR)—will analyze natural resources and their potential for building sustainable peace.
  • Special working groups of scholars, practitioners, and policymakers will focus on water, forests, and minerals, and report best practices.
  • Tom Spencer (European Centre for Public Affairs) and Peter Knoedel (formerly of BP) will conclude the session with lessons learned and future prospects.

    Themes:

  • Positive linkages among environment, development, and peace
  • The private sector's role
  • Post-conflict environmental policies as peacebuilding
  • Lessons learned from natural resources
  • Panels on water, forests, and minerals

    Who should attend?

  • Politicians and civil servants responsible for sustainable development policies
  • NGO representatives
  • Scholars/academics, analysts, journalists, and researchers working on environment, development, and peace
  • Private sector executives responsible for environmental policies and global relations

    The number of participants is limited to 75. The conference fee (fully inclusive) is £1150 (reductions are possible for participants from the South and for NGOs).

    For more information, please contact:

    Ms. Sandry Koo, Conference Administrator
    Tel: +44 (0) 1903 817765
    Fax: +44 (0) 1903 817162

    Dr. Roger Williamson, Associate Director
    Tel: +44 1903 817737
    Fax: +44 1903 814445

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