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The Health Burden of the Afghan Woman: Navigating Challenges Amidst Calamity
›Dot-Mom // Guest Contributor // November 21, 2023 // By Massoma Jafari, Fatima Jafari, Faiza Rab & Ijia Ormel
In the rugged heart of Western Afghanistan, the people of Herat Province have been grappling since October 7, 2023 with a relentless barrage of aftershocks from a series of powerful earthquakes that surpassed 6.0 in magnitude. These seismic convulsions have left an indelible mark on this land and its people. After 40 years of almost-continuous conflict, Afghanistan already faces some of the world’s most alarming health statistics. The nation has one of the highest maternal mortality rates globally, with 638 deaths per 100,000 live births, as well as an infant mortality rate of 36 deaths per 1,000 live births.
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Ecological Threat Report 2023: Same Hotspots, More Risk
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Future projections of social disturbance due to climate change and ecological pressures provide little optimism for peace in conflict-affected areas over the coming decades. Yet, can we identify current hotspots and future areas of conflict risk? The fourth Ecological Threat Report (ETR), produced by the Institute for Economics & Peace, attempts to do so by taking on the monumental task of evaluating the relationship between ecological threats and peace.
The new report documents a world of growing ecological threats and declining social resilience in the states and territories most vulnerable to a changing climate. And by assessing ecological threats, societal resilience, and levels of peacefulness at the state, territorial, subnational, and city levels, the report also finds a strong correlation between ecological threats and levels of peacefulness.
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ECSP Weekly Watch | November 13 – 17
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A window into what we are reading at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program
A Fifth National Climate Assessment
The US Global Change Research Program launched the fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA) on Monday, November 13. Published once every five years, the NCA is the United States’ leading report on climate change impacts, risks, and responses.
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Relief, Recovery, and Peace: David Nicholson on COP28’s New Theme
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In a new mini-series previewing the upcoming UN Climate Summit (COP28)’s new focus on relief, recovery, & peace, ECSP Program Director Lauren Risi spoke with David Nicholson, Director of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Technical Support Unit at Mercy Corps.Nicholson described his role in ensuring that climate change is at the center of Mercy Corps’ wide-ranging and successful global humanitarian aid programs in 42 countries—and the importance of having local staff to make interventions a true partnership. He also talks about climate finance, and his hopes that COP28’s theme of “relief, recovery and peace” will advance the view that peacemaking is essential to adaptation efforts.
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Relief, Recovery, and Peace: Iris Ferguson on COP28’s New Theme
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In a new mini-series previewing the upcoming UN Climate Summit (COP28)’s new focus on relief, recovery, & peace, ECSP Program Director Lauren Risi spoke with Iris Ferguson, the US Department of Defense’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience.Deputy Assistant Secretary Ferguson spoke about why climate security has become a crucial element in DOD planning, as well as why the department will have a highly visible presence at COP28. She also shared the story of her own path to leadership at the Pentagon – as well as why her position includes both global resilience and the Arctic.
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Introducing “The Arc”
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On today’s episode of New Security Broadcast, ECSP is launching a new series called The Arc, focused on the connections between climate change, equity, justice, and identity. We will cover a wide range of topics – from food and water systems to the energy transition, migration, and climate finance – and talk with practitioners, advocates, professors, and community leaders to discover where these topics intersect with issues related to climate impacts and justice.
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ECSP Weekly Watch | October 16 – 20
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A window into what we are reading at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security ProgramWater Security Concerns in Gaza
Hamas’ surprise attack on Israel on October 7th led the Israeli government to cut off water supplies to the Gaza Strip with immediate effect. This has resulted in a clean water crisis that the UN warns is now a matter of life and death.
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ECSP Weekly Watch | October 9 – 13
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A window into what we are reading at the Wilson Center’s Environmental Change and Security Program
Organizing Regional Action on Climate Change, Health, and Environment
As the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals looms, the World Health Organization has proposed a new regional framework that aims to build climate-resilient and sustainable health systems, improve the health sector’s access to climate funding, and build an evidence base for policymaking.
Showing posts from category disaster relief.



In a new mini-series previewing the upcoming UN Climate Summit (COP28)’s new focus on relief, recovery, & peace, ECSP Program Director Lauren Risi spoke with David Nicholson, Director of the Environment, Energy and Climate Change Technical Support Unit at Mercy Corps.
In a new mini-series previewing the upcoming UN Climate Summit (COP28)’s new focus on relief, recovery, & peace, ECSP Program Director Lauren Risi spoke with Iris Ferguson, the US Department of Defense’s Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience.


