The new Biden administration has pledged to make climate change a priority. Joe Biden signed an executive order directing the federal government to make climate change an integral part of its foreign and national security policy. Other countries have pushed multilateral institutions such as the European Union, UN Environment, the UN Security Council or the World Bank to address climate risks for human and national security, and it goes in line with years of thinking within the defence sector. While 2020 and 2016 have been the hottest years on record, the world has also seen an increase in armed conflicts.

This webinar, organized by Mistra Geopolitics and Stockholm Environment Institute, examines the connection between climate change and conflict and how climate security risks are perceived and governed by states and multilateral institutions.

Agenda

15:00–15:10: Opening remarks

• Robert Egnell, Vice-Chancellor of the Swedish Defence University, Professor in Leadership
• Björn-Ola Linnér, Professor Environmental Change, Centre for Climate Science and Policy Research, Linköping University, Programme Director Mistra

15:10–15:35: Presentations of research highlights

Presentations by researchers from the Mistra Geopolitics research programme:

Climate change and security: What is the connection between climate and conflict? Evidence and knowledge gaps

• Nina von Uexkull, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Stockholm University, Associate Senior Researcher, Peace Research Institute Oslo, Mistra

Climate risks in global governance: Climate action and perceptions in multilateral institutions

• Lisa Dellmuth, Associate Professor of International Relations, Dept of Economic History and International Relations, Stockholm University, Mistra

Variations of climate security risks: Perceptions among UN Climate Conference participants

• Maria Jernäs, PhD candidate, Department of Thematic Studies – Environmental Change, Linköping University and Mistra

15:35–15:55: Panel discussion and Q&A

• Björn-Ola Linnér, Professor in Environmental Change, Linköping University, Programme Director of Mistra Geopolitics
• Lisa Dellmuth, Associate Professor in International Relations, Stockholm University
• Nina von Uexkull, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, Stockholm University
• Maria Jernäs, PhD candidate, Environmental Change, Linköping University

The discussion will be moderated by:

• Robert Egnell, Professor in Leadership, Swedish Defence University

15:55–16:00: Closing remarks

By Robert Egnell, Vice-Chancellor of the Swedish Defence University, Professor in Leadership.