The past and future(s) of environmental peacebuilding

Abstract

Environmental peacebuilding is a rapidly growing field of research and practice at the intersection of environment, conflict, peace and security. Focusing on these linkages is crucial in a time when the environment is a core issue of international politics and the number of armed conflicts remains high. This article introduces a special issue with a particular emphasis on environmental opportunities for building and sustaining peace. We first detail the definitions, theoretical assumptions and intellectual background of environmental peacebuilding. The article then provides context for the special issue by briefly reviewing core findings and debates of the first two generations of environmental peacebuilding research. Finally, we identify knowledge gaps that should be addressed in the next generation of research, and to which the articles in this special issue contribute: bottom-up approaches, gender, conflict-sensitive programming, use of big data and frontier technology, and monitoring and evaluation.

Human Security and Sustainable Development in East Africa

“…In countries such as Nigeria and Lebanon, protracted conflicts have been linked to environmental pollution (Evelyn & Tyav, 2012;Takshe et al, 2010;Obi, 2014). As a component of human security, proponents of environmental security argue that addressing serious problems of ecological degradation can also resolve conflict emerging or sustained by such environmental problems (Johnson et al, 2021;Ide et al, 2021;. According to , natural resources and environmental factors can constitute, in a significant way, a sustainable peacebuilding process.…”

Social Cohesion as the Missing Link between Natural Resource Management and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Cocoa Production in Côte d’Ivoire and Colombia

“…Whilst historically, natural resources and environmental issues were predominantly regarded as a source of conflict, in recent years their potential to motivate cooperation, transformation, and the consolidation of peace is acknowledged [12]. Natural resources and the environment can essentially contribute to peacebuilding in two ways: (1) Through economic development and the generation of employment and (2) the cooperation over the management of shared natural resources, which can provide new opportunities for peacebuilding [2,22].…”

“…Natural resources and the environment can essentially contribute to peacebuilding in two ways: (1) Through economic development and the generation of employment and (2) the cooperation over the management of shared natural resources, which can provide new opportunities for peacebuilding [2,22]. The second, the aspect of cooperative resource management, is now referred to as Environmental Peacebuilding [4,12]. It builds on the assumption that NRM enables cooperation by creating spaces for collaboration of stakeholders and, thus, establishes contact, bonds, and, ultimately, networks between previously warring social groups, which can translate into increasing social cohesion and peacebuilding.…”

“…It is influenced by levels of socio-economic inclusion, as well as societal relations defined by levels of trust, sense of belonging, and willingness to cooperate [9,10]. NRM activities in a given community are likely to significantly influence community cohesion by creating spaces for stakeholder interaction, thereby strengthening levels of trust, collaboration, and inclusion [11,12]. Therefore, in post-conflict contexts where dispute over access to land and other natural resources was part of the conflict, developing agricultural production models that enhance the sustainable use of resources can provide opportunity for building sustainable peace on all three dimensions (environmental, economic, and social), and also contribute towards other development goals such as climate change mitigation.…”

Environmental security and sustainable development of large urban centres

“…Although sustainable development has become a globally recognized term for responsible growth, its significance and measurement remain diverse and often complex, even as it becomes a global standard. The World Bank combined the concept of environmental security with the concepts of generational justice and equality between generations, arguing for the importance of "environmental security" as an integral part of sustainable development as a whole [5,6]. Growing environmental awareness in developing countries has led to environmental problems being seen as important enough to be considered a safety problem.…”