International Security and Sustainability - A Conversantion with Dr. Elizabeth Chalecki

National and international security is no longer solely a matter of military defense.. Both shortages and abundance of natural resources such as fresh water, oil and natural gas, and diamonds and timber can contribute to conflict and insecurity. Couple that with global environmental phenomena, such as climate change, deforestation, and extreme weather and understanding the links between ecological health and international security is critically important to decision makers in all parts of society and to society itself.

Those are the precise issues addressed by Dr. Elizabeth Chalecki, visiting Mellon assistant professor in the Environmental Studies Program at Goucher College, in her new book. Environmental Security, A guide to the issues.  The volume covers key concepts, issues, and debates surrounding environmental security, illustrating through a range of examples and cases the link between global environmental matters and international security. Importantly, Dr. Chalecki explores how nations can, and must, cooperate with each other to confront and manage these threats.

I invite you to join Dr. Chalecki and Ed Saltzberg, Managing Director of the Security and Sustainability Forum in a free live 45 minute online discussion about national security and sustainability. We will be joined by Karla Perri, former Assistant Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environment and a principal with the Spectrum Group.