Climate Security, Conflict, and Resilience with Josh Bowen

Crisis Lab

Climate, Security, Conflict, and Resilience with Josh Bowen

Crisis. Conflict. Emergency Management Podcast

Global perspectives and conversations about international crisis, preparedness, and how to build more resilient societies in a challenging and ever-changing world. As the world moves to reduce risk to global threats, we need to recognize the vulnerabilities, connectivity, and perspectives that drive instability. Join us for international conversations addressing key challenges and risks that undermine our efforts to build more resilient societies.

This podcast is brought to you by Capacity Building International (CBI) and sponsored by The International Emergency Management Society (TIEMS).

Today we are joined by Josh Bowen. Josh has more than 18 years of crisis leadership and emergency management experience and training in disaster, military, and academic settings. He is currently faculty in the Disaster and Emergency Management program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) and teaches select crisis leadership courses for NAIT’s Centre for Applied Disaster and Emergency Management. Josh is also serving as a Subject Matter Expert supporting Public Safety Canada’s National Risk Profile initiative and Environment and Climate Change Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy. Before joining NAIT, Josh served 13 years in the Canadian Armed Forces as an Infantry Officer and was directly involved in five disaster response operations. He holds a Master of Disaster and Emergency Management from York University and is a graduate of the National Preparedness Leadership Initiative at Harvard University.

Climate Security: A Special Series

The relationship between climate change and deadly conflict is complex and context-specific. Climate change affects every aspect of life, damaging food systems, displacing millions, and shaping the future of conflict. It is undeniable that climate change is a threat multiplier that is already increasing food insecurity, water scarcity, and resource competition while disrupting livelihoods and spurring migration. In turn, deadly conflict and political instability are contributing to climate change.

Climate change and conflict (climate and environmental crises) affect every aspect of our lives, from our physical and mental health to our food, water, and livelihoods. While these crises affect everyone, those hit hardest are the poorest and most marginalized communities. People living through conflict frequently tell us about the massive environmental changes they are witnessing. Their daily lives are not only made more difficult by the violence they experience, but also by a changing climate and environment. They are often ill-prepared for repeated climate hazards.

NATO Climate Change and Security Action Plan NATO has been addressing environmental challenges for over half a century, initially mostly from a science and research perspective. Since the turn of the century, a number of environmental standards and guidelines have been developed. Climate change featured in the 2010 Strategic Concept, a Green Defence framework was adopted in 2014, and climate issues were highlighted in Summit Statements since Lisbon 2010. However, further work and sustained political ambition are needed to ensure that NATO is fully prepared to continue to deliver in a changing climate.

Josh Bowen can be reached via such channels: LinkedIn