Wilson Center | Environmental Change and Security Program

💫 This week on New Security Beat, we cover how to accelerate just energy transitions around the world, the promise of a new US-Africa energy alliance, the consequences of the Swachh Bharat Mission, and more! Check out the latest from NSB here ⬇️ 🔹 The Arc | Financing Inclusive Climate Action: Investing in and Empowering Local Communities | https://buff.ly/3OX0vKa 🔹 Swachh Bharat Mission: Intended and Unintended Consequences | By Shamika Ravi & Sindhuja Penumarty - https://buff.ly/3ZB1QeH 🔹 US-Africa Energy Development: An Opportunity for the Trump Administration? | By Kalim Shah & Tabenyang Etchu - https://buff.ly/3BvHV8S 🔹 The Arc | Inclusive Green Energy: Accelerating Just Transitions | https://buff.ly/41A4Hae 🔹 ECSP Weekly Watch | December 9 – 13 | By Neeraja Kulkarni - https://buff.ly/4fkNgO9 #ClimateChange #JustTransition #Sanitation #Energy USAID - Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance Wilson Center | China Environment Forum Wilson Center | Maternal Health Initiative

Since the fall 2024 issue examining unprecedented humanitarian needs worldwide was first published, the situation continues to deteriorate in the Sahel. It's all too easy to become mired in the challenges. Phillip Carter III provides often heartbreaking context in a special WQ Dispatch. "The Sahel is burning. After a couple of decades flirting with incompetent governments, the region has returned to its tortured history of incompetent military juntas. The expansion of jihadist insurgencies coupled with aggravated ethnic/tribal rivalries has made conditions even worse. Entire regions within Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso are controlled by jihadist groups. Thousands, if not millions, of beleaguered families struggle to survive as education, health, and economic conditions have collapsed in large swaths of each country." But Carter's article goes beyond the challenges. He draws on his experiences as a retired American diplomat, career Foreign Service officer, and former ambassador to the Republic of Guinea and the Ivory Coast to offer insightful analysis and thoughts for a potential path forward. "The solution resides in addressing the economic and social frustrations and distrust of the region’s youth. In this context, good governance that delivers social and economic benefits to its citizens is the social vaccine to extremism," he writes. Read more from Ambassador Carter in What To Do About The Sahel: https://lnkd.in/gHw7UDDc #HumanitarianAid #TheSahel #PolyCrises

💧Ready to Shape Solutions to #MENA’s Water Challenges? The Wilson Center’s Agents of Change Youth Fellowship is an unparalleled opportunity for young professionals from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) passionate about advancing their expertise in and making an impact on climate, water, and security challenges. Supported by the UAE Embassy - Washington, DC, this fellowship focuses on empowering the region’s youth to address water insecurity and climate resilience. As a fellow, you will get the chance to hear from leading experts in the water, climate, and security fields, build technical research and writing skills, and conduct original research on a topic of their choosing. Check out the previous ACYF Cohort’s reflections on the fellowship and read their insights on gender-responsive #climate finance, #water management, green entrepreneurship, and more below. Be part of the 2025 cohort! Apply by December 15 to join this network of changemakers. Learn more about the Fellowship and how to apply here ⬇️ https://buff.ly/3VujoI2

Join us in welcoming Margarita Balmaceda to The Wilson Center! 👏 👏 Dr. Margarita M. Balmaceda is a Professor of Diplomacy and International Relations at Seton Hall University and an Associate at the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI). At the Wilson Center, Dr. Balmaceda will focus on a research project titled “The Last Frontier of Decarbonization: Hidden Industrial Fossil Fuels Between Geopolitics and Climate Change." https://buff.ly/49qVHWV

💫 Applications Open | Agents of Change Youth Fellowship The Wilson Center's Middle East Program and Environmental Change and Security Program are pleased to announce a call for applications for the “Agents of Change Youth Fellowship.” The ACYF Fellowship is an opportunity for emerging leaders from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to advance their careers at the intersection of climate change, water, and security. Recognizing the importance of addressing water-related challenges in the MENA region and the potential for its youth to meaningfully shape action on water and climate change, this year’s theme will focus on how to address water-related challenges in the region. As a fellow, you will get the chance to hear from leading experts in the water, climate, and security fields, build technical research and writing skills, and conduct original research on a topic of your choosing. Learn how to apply today on the fellowship webpage⬇️ https://buff.ly/3z6GREr

🎙 Exciting News from the Wilson Center Africa Program 🎙 We’re thrilled to announce the launch of Beyond a Single Story, our new podcast series exploring US-Africa relations through multiple angles, diverse perspectives, and compelling stories. Our first season takes a deep dive into the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)—a key element of US trade policy with African countries since its enactment in 2000. With AGOA facing expiration in 2025 unless Congress renews it, now is the time to reflect on the Act's successes, challenges, and future. 🎧 Listen to our first episode now: https://buff.ly/3Vri8p1 Throughout the season, we’ll be talking to: • Policymakers and political leaders who shaped AGOA • US and African business leaders and entrepreneurs • Civil society and labor advocates shaping the conversation • Thought leaders envisioning the future of US-Africa trade Each episode brings a nuanced perspective on AGOA’s impact and what lies ahead for US-Africa economic relations. 🔔 Don’t miss an episode—subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Help us spread the word by sharing with your networks!

💫 The Wilson Center’s Agents of Change Youth Fellowship is now accepting applications! This Fellowship, hosted by the Wilson Center with support from the UAE Embassy - Washington, DC, is designed for young professionals across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that are interested in advancing their expertise at the intersection of #climatechange, #water, and #security. As a fellow, you’ll: ✨ Engage in seminars led by global experts 📄 Conduct impactful, original research ✈️ Participate in a regional capstone trip This year’s theme focuses on innovative strategies to tackle #MENA’s water-related challenges, equipping participants with the skills and connections to drive meaningful change. Applicants must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and relevant work experience or a master’s degree with a demonstrated interest in these issues. Applications close December 15! Learn more about the Fellowship and how to apply below👇 https://buff.ly/4eM530n

📖 #NewSecurityBeat's top 5 posts from November 2024 feature insights for tackling climate and conflict challenges, Chinese solar and wind companies' growing presence in sub-Saharan Africa, and interviews with former NSC Director for Climate Security and Adaptation Swathi Veeravalli and Trivium China’s Cosimo Ries! 💡⬇️ 1️⃣ China’s Offshore Wind Blows Away the Competition, For Now: Q&A with Trivium China’s Cosimo Ries | By Man-Hsuan(Annie) Lin - https://buff.ly/4ikjN9J 2️⃣ New Tool Offers Key Insights for Tackling Climate and Conflict Challenges | By Kayly Ober, Daniel Abrahams, PhD & Luna B. Ruiz- https://buff.ly/3Z46imW 3️⃣ Lights On or Off? Chinese Solar and Wind Companies in Sub-Saharan Africa | By Xiaokang(Harold) Xue - https://buff.ly/499usjp 4️⃣ Swathi Veeravalli on the Importance of Climate Security for US Strategic Interests | By Lauren Herzer Risi - https://buff.ly/415b0Ci 5️⃣ The 2024 Emissions Gap Report: A Clarion Call for Mandatory Commitments? | By Rachel Santarsiero - https://buff.ly/48BpX0M

ICYMI | Check out the latest from ECSP on #NewSecurityBeat ⬇️ 🔹 Guam and Vanuatu: Different Paths from Environmental Change to Human Insecurity | By Anselm Vogler - https://buff.ly/3ODEFv7 🔹 Swathi Veeravalli on the Importance of Climate Security for US Strategic Interests | By Lauren Herzer Risi - https://buff.ly/415b0Ci 🔹 The 2024 Montreal Climate Security Summit: Four Takeaways | By Claire Doyle - https://buff.ly/4i6POCg 🔹 Microplastics are Sickening and Killing Wildlife, Disrupting Earth Systems | Cross-posted from Mongabay by Sharon Guynup - https://buff.ly/3CMUNI0 🔹 Confronting Pronatalism is Essential for Reproductive Justice and Ecological Sustainability | By Nandita Bajaj - https://buff.ly/3CYcJ2f