Water Weaponization: Its Forms, Its Use in the Russia-Ukraine War, and What to Do About It

Water has been associated with conflict and cooperation between states since the beginning of recorded history. In ancient Mesopotamia, a conflict over the Euphrates River between two Sumerian cities yielded the world’s first recorded treaty. However, water has just as often been weaponized during conflict—water weaponization being the exploitation of the human need for water, by deliberately rendering it scarce and/ or insecure. This briefer will highlight the core elements of water weaponization, and then assess its practice in the Russia-Ukraine war to date.

Call for Applications: Climate Security Fellows 2023-2024

The Center for Climate and Security (CCS), an institute of the Council on Strategic Risks, is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 2023-2024 Climate Security Fellowship.  In the last few years, extreme weather, food and energy crises,…

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CSR Announces New Staff, Internal Moves

Continuing a trajectory of rapid growth, the Council on Strategic Risks is pleased to announce a new round of hires across its programs and role changes for existing staff.  The Center for Climate and Climate and Security (CCS) added expertise across its portfolios, bringing on Tom Ellison, Patricia Parera, and Michael Zarfos to analyze ecological security risks and advance progress in addressing security threats posed by climate change. The Converging Risks Lab also welcomed Lily Boland as a new team member.

We’re Recruiting: 5-month Consultant for CSR’s Work Examining Climate/Ecological Security and Emerging Diseases

CSR is seeking an independent consultant with a strong background in climate change and ecological issues, and knowledge or eagerness to learn about how these issues are affecting the risk of disease spillover.

EVENT: China’s Climate Security Vulnerabilities

In an era increasingly defined by climate change, the United States and China stand out as the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases—but neither country is immune to its impacts. China, home to nearly 20% of the world’s population and 6.5% of the Earth’s land surface, faces a number of climate security challenges. A recent report published by the Center for Climate and Security identified three categories of risk: (1) direct risks to military and critical infrastructure; (2) compounding risks to internal political stability as climate change threatens food and water security; and (3) external risks as competition over shared resources is heightened and China contends with the impacts of climate on its more vulnerable neighbors.

Briefer: The Devil’s in the Deep: Marine Fisheries, Ecological Tipping Point Risks, and Maritime Security

For countries and communities reliant on ocean resources, the combined ramifications of habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, pollution, resource depletion, and the mounting effects of global climate change could be considerable, jeopardizing the livelihoods, security, and welfare of millions of people.