Finding Hope in the Climate-Peace-Disarmament Nexus (Session 1)

Progress on environmental protection is fundamentally hampered by armed conflict, nuclear threats, and the massive diversion of resources into weapons and war. This first session of a two-part intergenerational dialogue explored how global governance solutions could tackle these interconnected existential threats, with a focus on the Americas, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.

About This Conversation

This Q&A panel discussion was hosted by Citizens for Global Solutions (CGS), Youth Fusion, and the World Federalist Movement – Institute for Global Policy (WFM-IGP). The series explored the potential of common security and global governance to foster cooperation on climate, peace, and disarmament issues. The intergenerational format brought together youthful energy and innovation with seasoned expertise and experience, actively engaging the audience in the movement to build stronger pathways to a peaceful and sustainable future.

Speakers

• William (Bill) R. Pace (USA), Founder and Inaugural Convenor, Coalition for an International Criminal Court; Former Executive Director, World Federalist Movement-Institute for Global Policy (WFM-IGP); Co-Founder, International Coalition for the Responsibility to Protect
• Kehkashan Basu, MSM (UAE/Canada), Founder-President, Green Hope Foundation; United Nations Human Rights Champion; Winner, 2016 International Children’s Peace Prize; Council Member, World Future Council
• Marie-Claire Graf (Switzerland), Co-Founder, Youth Negotiators Academy and Climate Youth Negotiator Programme; UN Youth Climate Champion of Switzerland
• Prof. Maja Groff (Canada/Netherlands), Convenor, Climate Governance Commission; Visiting Professor/Scholar, Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs, Leiden University; Lecturer, Hague Academy of International Law
• Prof. Juergen Scheffran (Germany), Professor of Integrative Geography; Chair of the Research Group Climate Change and Security, University of Hamburg; Principal author, The Climate-Nuclear Nexus
• Michaela Higgins Sorensen (Denmark/South Africa), Youth Fusion Co-Convener; Program Officer, PNND Gender, Peace and Security Program; Campaign Manager, Nuclear Stories project at DOCMINE

Key Themes

• The climate-nuclear nexus and how military spending diverts critical resources from climate action
• Common security frameworks as alternatives to deterrence-based approaches
• The role of climate governance institutions in bridging the gap between disarmament and environmental protection
• Youth-led movements connecting peace, climate justice, and disarmament advocacy
• Gender dimensions of peace and security in the context of climate change

Co-Sponsors

This event was co-sponsored by the 3+3 Coalition for a North-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone, Basel Peace Office, Climate Governance Commission, Democracia Global, Global Minnesota, Green Hope Foundation, I Am Climate Justice, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament, World Future Council, World Service Authority, World’s Youth for Climate Justice, Young World Federalists, and Youth Fusion, with promotional sponsorship from Peace Action and Upper Hudson Peace Action.