In today’s episode of The Arc, we are featuring a panel discussion on climate action through Indigenous and community power from the Forum on Advancing Inclusive Climate Action in Foreign Policy and Development, hosted by the Wilson Center in collaboration with the White House and USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, with support from the USAID Climate Adaptation Support Activity.

In today’s episode of The Arc, ECSP’s Claire Doyle and Angus Soderberg interview Eva Maria Fjellheim, a southern Saami researcher at the Arctic University of Norway, for the final episode of our mini-series focused on climate justice in the Arctic. We explore Eva Maria’s research on strengthening Indigenous peoples’ land rights in the face of growing climate and clean energy projects. She shares insights from legal battles in Norway and connects the encroachment on Saami land to similar trends with Indigenous communities in Latin America and elsewhere. Eva Maria also discusses how current climate policies may be missing the mark by failing to truly respect Indigenous rights. Select quotes from the interview are featured below:

In today’s episode of The Arc, ECSP’s Claire Doyle and Angus Soderberg interview Dr. Benno Fladvad, Junior Professor for Natural Science Peace Research with a focus on Climate and Security at the University of Hamburg. Dr. Fladvad unpacks the potential environmental justice issues that arise as renewable energy deployment across the globe accelerates. Additionally, he also describes the challenges of balancing the demand for rapid decarbonization with equity and justice considerations, drawing on examples from the Saami communities’ experience with green hydrogen and wind development. We also glean Dr. Fladvad’s insights into how energy projects can move beyond ineffective consultation processes toward peacebuilding and justice for marginalized communities. Select quotes from the interview are featured below.

In today’s episode of The Arc, ECSP’s Claire Doyle and Angus Soderberg interview Gunn-Britt Retter, Head of the Arctic and Environmental Unit at the Saami Council, in part one of three episodes focused on climate justice in the Arctic. We dive into Gunn-Britt’s background and her work on the Saami Council. Gunn-Britt outlines how climate change is impacting the livelihoods and daily lives of the Saami people and how even our responses to climate change can threaten Indigenous rights and land use. She also makes the case for a fundamental reexamination of our relationship with nature to make progress on addressing climate change. Select quotes from the interview are featured below.

In today’s episode of New Security Broadcast, ECSP’s Claire Doyle and Angus Soderberg speak with Dr. Mizan Khan, Technical Lead at the Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change. Dr. Khan was formerly the Deputy Director at the International Center for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), a research institute based in Bangladesh.

Dr. Khan describes Bangladesh’s vulnerability to climate change and its unique role as an adaptation leader. He also discusses what he believes the core principles of the Loss and Damage Fund should be, and the legacy of the late Dr. Saleemul Huq. 

In today’s episode of The Arc, ECSP’s Angus Soderberg and Claire Doyle interview Wilson Center Fellow Dr. Renata Giannini about her work with women environmental defenders in the Amazon and their role at COP30 in Brazil. Select quotes from the interview are featured below.

In today’s episode of The Arc, ECSP’s Angus Soderberg and Claire Doyle interview Nisha Singh and Kavin Mirteekhan from Women for Women International. We dive into the organization’s recent report, “Cultivating a more enabling environment: Strengthening women’s resilience in climate-vulnerable and conflict-affected communities,” to hear how women around the world are disproportionately impacted by conflict and climate shocks—and what we can learn from their solutions. 

In today’s episode of The Arc, ECSP’s Claire Doyle and Angus Soderberg interview Dr. Yvonne Su, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Equity Studies at York University in Toronto. Dr. Su challenges oversimplified portrayals of displacement by drawing out how socioeconomic status, identity, and timeframes shape experiences of migration. She also stresses the importance of involving marginalized communities in policy consultations and draws attention to local grassroots organizations as pivotal players in addressing the challenges of climate migration.