Climate change is increasingly driving conflicts and exacerbating tensions worldwide. From water scarcity to food insecurity, the environmental impacts of climate change often contribute to underlying frustrations, pushing communities and nations toward violence. Efforts to address these challenges, however, may also open opportunities for cooperation and conflict resolution.
At this event, journalist and researcher Peter Schwartzstein presented key findings from his new book, “The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence” (Island Press, 2024). In his book, Schwartzstein examines how climate change often serves as a catalyst for longstanding tensions, escalating frustration into conflict and, in some cases, violence. He explores whether cooperation on climate issues can reduce geopolitical frictions and help mend divisions. Drawing on more than a decade of reporting and field research from dozens of countries, including Iraq, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, and other countries, Schwartzstein provides insights into the complex relationship between environmental challenges and societal stability.
A signing took place after the lecture. Copies of the book were available for purchase before and after the lecture.
This event was co-sponsored by the Baker Institute Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East and the Rice Sustainability Institute. It was free and open to the public.
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Agenda
5:30 pm CST — Reception
6:00 pm CST — Introduction
6:05 pm CST — Featured Speaker Remarks
6:30 pm CST — Moderated Discussion
6:55 pm CST — Audience Q&A
7:15 pm CST — Book Signing
Participants
Introductory Remarks
Carrie Masiello, Ph.D.
W. Maurice Ewing Professor of Biogeochemistry, Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences, Professor, Chemistry and Biosciences, Rice University; Director, Rice Sustainability Institute
Featured Speaker
Peter Schwartzstein, an environmental journalist, researcher, and author based in Greece, reports on the connections across the environment, politics, and security with an emphasis on the climate-violence nexus. With experience in over 30 countries across the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and North and East Africa, his work has appeared in National Geographic, Foreign Policy, The New York Times, and more. He consults for organizations such as the U.N. and Amnesty International and is affiliated with the Center for Climate and Security and the Wilson Center. His first book, “The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence” (Island Press, 2024), explores climate-driven violence and was named a top new climate book by The Financial Times.
Moderator
Kelsey Norman, Ph.D.
Fellow for the Middle East, Director of the Women's Rights, Human Rights, and Refugees Program, Baker Institute for Public Policy
