Environmental security challenges frequently concern spaces extending beyond the sovereign jurisdiction of nation states, including areas such as the Arctic, the atmosphere, and the oceans. Stimson’s work on the global commons analyzes the national and international policies and institutions that have evolved to address these issues, and considers alternative possible policy regimes and collective institutional architectures.

Publications

The Fisheries-Food Security Nexus

In July 2012 the National Intelligence Council asked the Stimson Center to examine the role of fisheries in ensuring the food supply and food security of the littoral countries of the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea and resulting implications for US security interests. Stimson produced a report analyzing the current status and emerging trends affecting the future sustainability of wild capture fisheries and marine … Read More >> 

Connecting the Drops: An Indus Basin Roadmap for Cross-Border Water Research, Data Sharing, and Policy Coordination

Connecting the Drops: An Indus Basin Roadmap for Cross-Border Water Research, Data Sharing, and Policy Coordination seeks to build mutual understanding between Indian and Pakistani decision-makers of the common water risks they confront in the Indus Basin. Drawn from the combined input of 25 leading Indian and Pakistani water experts, climate change specialists, economists, and former ambassadors, the report provides a menu of practical steps to bolster Indian and Pakistani capacities to measure, evaluate, and address increasing strains on their shared water resources. Policy recommendations and ideas for cross-border research initiatives focus on five key areas: agriculture and food security, energy and economic development, climate change and environmental pressures, glaciology, and institutions, governance, and diplomacy….. Read More>>

The Arab Spring and Climate Change

“The Arab Spring and Climate Change” does not argue that climate change caused the revolutions that have shaken the Arab world over the past two years. But the essays collected in this slim volume make a compelling case that the consequences of climate change are stressors that can ignite a volatile mix of underlying causes that erupt into revolution…. Read More>>

Water Challenges and Cooperative Response in the Middle East and North Africa

Societies across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) have long balanced the competing water demands of households, industry, and agriculture. Careful management of water resources has been an absolute necessity in this region where annual renewable water supplies average about 623.8 billion cubic meters (BCM), compared to Africa’s 3,950 BCM, Asia’s 12,009 BCM, and the world total of 43,764 BCM… Read More>>

Scientific, Intellectual, and Governance Cooperation on Emerging Environmental Challenges in the Muslim World

Scientific, Intellectual, and Governance Cooperation on Emerging Environmental Challenges in the Muslim World provides an overview of the challenges posed by environmental change in several regions where significant Muslim populations are found: Southeast Asia, South and Central Asia, Southwest Asia/Persian Gulf, North Africa, and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa… Read More>>

Analysis

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly About Indonesia’s Palm Oil Boom | July 3, 2013
By Brendan McGovern

Under the Sea: Natural Resources in the Indian Ocean | July 2, 2013
By David Michel

Egypt, Ethiopia Water Dispute Threatens Nations | June 26, 2013
By David Michel

Desert Solitaire: Why India and Pakistan Should Collaborate to Combat Desertification | April 10, 2012
By Sreya Panuganti

Adding Foresight to the Emerging Arctic Regime | November 16, 2010
By Caitlyn Antrim

Reforming the IPCC | September 16, 2010
By Syed Iqbal Hasnain

More Signs of Warming, but United Nations Climate Change Negotiations Still Cold | February 10, 2011
By Syed Iqbal Hasnain

Events

Russia’s Arctic Development Strategy and Opportunities for Regional Collaboration | March 27, 2012

In March 2012, the Environmental Security Program at the Stimson Center and the Rule of Law Committee for the Oceans sponsored a presentation by Dr. Alexander Pelyasov, Head of the Center for Northern and Arctic Economies of the Council for the Study of Productive Forces of the Russian Federation. Dr. Pelyasov presented highlights of Russia’s Development Strategy for the Arctic Zone, emphasizing new approaches to Arctic policy based on innovation in technology; scientific research into the factors behind Arctic change; new opportunities for local communities and indigenous people; and regional partnerships and international cooperation… Read More>>

Can the Gulf Be Green? Environmental Challenges and Opportunities in the Persian Gulf | November 18, 2010

Dr. Mohamed Raouf is Program Manager – Environment Research at the Gulf Research Center, Dubai. Dr. Raouf, who has been a lecturer of Environmental Accounting and Economics, has worked on several sustainable development plans and been a consultant for the Egyptian Ministry of Industry, the Red Sea Sustainable Tourism Initiative in Egypt, DANIDA and the Federation of Egyptian Industries for the Clean Production Seed Project… Read More>>

The Law of the Sea Convention at 16: Its Impact on the 21st Century Agenda | November 16, 2010

The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea entered into force 16 years ago on November 16, 1994. Since then the Convention has established the norms for the behavior of states at sea… Read More>>

Global Warring: How Environmental, Economic, and Political Crises Will Redraw the World Map | June 14, 2010

Cleo Paskal is an Associate Fellow of the Energy, Environment and Development Programme at Chatham House (the Royal Institute of International Affairs) in London. She is also Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Geopolitics, Manipal University, India, and Adjunct Professor of Global Change, School of Communications and Management Studies, Kochi, India… Read More>>

A Green Technology Path for India | October 2, 2009

India faces daunting development and environmental challenges.  Three quarters of the population live on less than two dollars a day and perhaps 600 million Indians lack access to electricity, requiring India to vastly expand energy services to power continuing economic growth.  At the same time, India’s coastlines, agriculture, and water resources are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change… Read More>>

Natural Resource and Conflict in Pakistan | June 4, 2009

The Regional Voices: Transnational Challenges project cordially invites you to a conversation with Dr. Abid Suleri on the political conflicts related to natural resource use in Pakistan… Read More>>

Global Warming and the Future of International Climate Negotiations: A View From Southeast Asia | May 14, 2009

In December this year, Denmark will host the 15th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The Obama administration’s avowed commitment to address global warming has raised hopes that negotiations in Copenhagen can hammer out an effective agreement to succeed the expiring Kyoto Protocol. But the ongoing economic crisis may cast a shadow on the prospects for greenhouse accord… Read More>>

Multimedia

Radio H20: Jay Famiglietti on Satellite Mapping the Earth’s Fresh Water Resources

Jay Famiglietti of the University of California Irvine’s Center for Hydrologic Modeling, on innovations in satelliite-based mapping of surface and groundwater resources, and NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiement (GRACE).

Erwinsyah on Forest Exploitation and Indonesia

Erwinsyah, United Nations Development Programme, Indonesia, on problems of forest exploitation and community-based solutions in Indonesia.

Vute Wangwacharakul on Transboundary Natural Resource Management in Southeast Asia

Vute Wangwacharakul, Kasetsart University, Thailand, on transboundary natural resource management in Southeast Asia.

Joshua Ho on Maritime Security and Terrorism in Southeast Asia

Joshua Ho, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, on trends in maritime security and terrorism in Southeast Asia.

Len Garces Speaks About Fisheries in Southeast Asia

Len Garces, WorldFish Center, Philippines, speaks about degradation of fisheries and conflict over fishing rights in Southeast Asia.