Climate as a Catalyst for Global Conflicts

This interview podcast features journalist Peter Schwartzstein, author of "The Heat and the Fury," discussing his reporting on climate-related violence. The conversation begins with an introduction to Schwartzstein's work as a climate security journalist, followed by a discussion of his experiences reporting from conflict zones in Iraq, Syria, and Nepal, highlighting how climate change exacerbates existing conflicts and weakens state legitimacy. Schwartzstein details how water scarcity in Iraq fueled ISIS recruitment, and how environmental degradation in Nepal is eroding government trust. He also discusses the surprising emergence of climate-related violence in wealthier countries like Greece, citing examples such as increased gender-based violence during heat waves and olive oil theft due to price increases caused by drought. The podcast concludes with a hopeful note on environmental peacebuilding, emphasizing the potential for using environmental initiatives to reduce conflict.