Back to work on environment, peace, and security
Torgny Holmgren, SIWI pictured with Swedish minsters Ann Linde and Matilda Ernkrans alongside the chair of SIPRI and the directors of SRC and SEI. Credit: Alexandra Manolache/SIPRI Climate change is the defining crisis of our time and it is happening even more quickly than we feared. The impacts of climate change, along with degradation of nature and reduced biodiversity has monumental consequences for humanity and the planet. But we are far from powerless in the face of this global threat.
Today, in Stockholm, Swedish ministers along with representatives of four world leading, Stockholm-based organisations re-launched the Stockholm Hub on Environment, Peace and Security. The Hub’s aim is to provide evidence-based insights on building security and prosperity and strengthening resilience in the face of a changing climate.
At today’s event, Sweden’s Foreign Minister Ann Linde highlighted the importance of understanding and managing natural resources to avoid competition which can in turn lead to conflict. SIWI are pioneers in water diplomacy and transboundary cooperation over shared waters, another powerful tool to reduce conflict risks and foster peaceful collaboration. In supporting actors in many of the world’s most conflict-scarred regions and we see promising results.
Millions of people are already suffering from the catastrophic effects of extreme disasters exacerbated by climate change. It is often the most vulnerable communities, who contribute less to the causes of climate change, that feel its impacts the hardest. Sweden’s Minister for Development Aid Matilda Ernkrans noted that this research collaboration is part of supporting the most vulnerable countries in the best way through evidence-based analysis and dialogue.
“The war in Ukraine has emphasised the interconnectedness of the greatest challenges facing humanity and the planet”
The hub exemplifies the importance of working together, bringing expertise from a wide range of fields to ensure we are best placed to tackle crises as encompassing as the climate crisis. As SIWI’s Torgny Holmgren noted: ”The war in Ukraine has emphasised the interconnectedness of the greatest challenges facing humanity and the planet”. According to the UN Security General, the war in Ukraine could push 1.7 billion people, 1 in 5 people, into hunger and poverty. Unfortunately, we can expect to soon see similar shock waves sweep across our planet when other food markets collapse from climate pressures such as droughts and floods.”
Water has a key role to play in reducing conflict and improving resilience in the face of the climate crisis. This collaboration enables our expertise to be combined and strengthened by the knowledge and research in the Hub to facilitate the shared goal of a peaceful and prosperous planet and people.
Credit: Alexandra Manolache/SIPRI Stockholm Hub on Environment, Climate and Security
The Stockholm Hub on Environment, Climate and Security provides evidence-based insights on building security and prosperity and strengthening resilience in the face of a changing climate. It combines the strengths of four leading research institutes: Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University (SRC). The Hub is funded by the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
