Environmental Peacebuilders Working in the Midst of War

Environmental Peacebuilders Working in the Midst of War

Author: Climate One from The Commonwealth Club November 7, 2025 Duration: 1:04:06
Fossil-fueled climate disruption is driving political instability around the world. The relationship between climate disasters and conflict are well-established — and also complicated. Even in war-torn regions like Israel and Palestine, people work across political and ethnic divides to address humanitarian and climate crises. The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies has helped bring together Israelis, Palestinians, Moroccans, and Jordanians to study and tackle shared environmental challenges. How does climate disruption reshape cross-border relations? And can climate cooperation become a force for peace? Episode Guests:  Peter Schwartzstein, Environmental Journalist; Climate Security Researcher Fareed Mahameed, Assistant Director, Center for Transboundary Water Management, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies Liana Berlin-Fischler, Associate Director, Center for Applied Environmental Diplomacy, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org. Highlights:  12:42 Peter Schwartzstein on seeing the link between climate and violence 21:02 Peter Schwartzstein on the importance of governance  22:56 Peter Schwartzstein on better governance examples 27:17 Peter Schwartzstein on the danger of climate induced violence in the US 31:13 Peter Schwartzstein on new paths for cooperation  36:49 Liana Berlin-Fischler on moving to Israel  37:59 Fareed Mahameed on “fixing the world” 42:16 Fareed Mahameed on being compelled to help  47:05 Fareed Mahameed on figuring out what a community needs most  51:30 Liana Berlin-Fischler on the Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza project Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today. Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The conversation about our changing planet is often reduced to headlines and political noise, but Climate One moves beyond that. Hosted by Greg Dalton, Ariana Brocious and Kousha Navidar, this podcast from The Commonwealth Club creates a space for the full, complex dialogue we need. Each episode features candid discussions with scientists, policymakers, activists, and thinkers who are on the front lines. The focus is on drawing connections-between personal action and economic systems, between daunting scientific reports and tangible community solutions. You’ll hear analysis that doesn’t shy away from the severity of our situation while actively exploring pathways for genuine progress, from technology and finance to culture and justice. This isn't about alarmism or easy answers; it's about equipping listeners with a deeper understanding of the intertwined challenges and opportunities. Tuning into this podcast means joining a crucial exploration of how we adapt, mitigate, and fundamentally rethink our relationship with the natural world. The dialogue here is built on the idea that confronting the climate emergency honestly, in all its facets, is the first necessary step toward shaping a livable future.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Climate One
Podcast Episodes
Mother is Mothering [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:30
Sometimes mothers are biological; other times, they’re chosen. But often, they're the fiercest people you can have on your side. In this special Mother’s Day episode, we’ll hear stories about the vital role mothers and c…
John Doerr and Ryan Panchadsaram: Speed & Scale’s Reality Check [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:50
In 2021, legendary investor John Doerr outlined his plan to solve climate change in his bestseller “Speed & Scale.” The plan outlines 10 objectives, each with their own set of key results, to cut emissions to net zero. A…
Two Stories That Prove Change Is Possible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:48
We are living through a time where big positive change seems unachievable, but there are two instances from the recent past that prove change is possible. For over a century, Indigenous people along the Klamath River fou…
Press Start: Video Games and the Climate Crisis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:10
About half the global population spends some amount of their leisure time playing games, whether it’s a board game after dinner with friends or online role-playing experience through an alternate world. While many video…
Benji Backer: Nature is Nonpartisan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:19
In a moment when nearly everything feels polarized, Benji Backer is trying to carve out a different path, one where caring about the natural world isn’t a partisan issue. As the founder of Nature Is Nonpartisan, he’s bri…
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green Says Aloha to Decarbonization [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:54
More than perhaps any other state, Hawaii has major incentives to decarbonize. Imported oil accounts for about 90% of Hawaii's total energy consumption, and electricity prices are more than three times the national avera…
Trash Talk: Fresh Takes on Food Waste [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:24
Food loss and waste account for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and cost $1 trillion annually, according to the United Nations. About a third of all food grown on the planet gets wasted, rather than eaten. I…