Environmental Entry Points for Mediation

Simon Mason, Sebastian Kratzer and Edward Jackson argue that collaborating over environmental issues can be an entry point for security and peace talks. A global increase in environmental degradation and armed conflicts calls for clarity on the feasibility and limitations of this approach.

With the increase in number and intensity of armed conflicts, mediators are continually exploring what can be an entry point to start talks with or between conflict parties to move towards agreements that enhance security and peace. Entry points may be humanitarian, economic, environmental, security, or even political issues parties are ready to start talking about. Rising environmental degradation and resource competition are increasing attention to environmental issues as entry points.

Environmental issues can include the impacts of climate change (e.g. floods, droughts), environmental degradation (e.g. oil spills), and the use and management of renewable (e.g. water, forests), and non-renewable (e.g. minerals, oil, gas) resources. While some of these resources have been explored under an economic angle, an environmental perspective takes a broader focus, such as shedding light on ecosystem disruption resulting from the economic use of natural resources. The peacemaking efforts linked to rare earth mineral deals, such as in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Ukraine, illustrate this broader dynamic.

“By staying practical and linking environmental action to broader security concerns, nature can become a quiet but powerful catalyst for dialogue. ”

Simon Mason, Sebastian Kratzer, Edward Jackson

Environmental issues can serve as entry points for security and peace talks, but it is not as straight-forward as often portrayed. Mediators must demonstrate a deep understanding of the parties’ needs and interests, the environmental dimension of the potential entry point, and the potential for linking it to a follow-on security and peace process. Only then will they be able to assess risks and benefits in ways that both protect the environment and promote peace.

This analysis was carried out as part of the external pageCeasefire Mediation Project, a collaboration between the CSS and HD, funded by the European Union.