The nature of climate risks complicates efforts to pinpoint and articulate climate’s impact on conflict. In January’s top post, Peter Schwartzstein draws on years of environmental reporting across the MENA region to share examples of how environmental and climate changes are driving conflict in areas where the climate angle isn’t immediately obvious.  

Speaking of climate and conflict, the recently released Global Fragility Strategy fails to include climate change as a driver of fragility, notes ECSP Director Lauren Risi in the fifth top post. It does, however, signal a growing awareness of the role that environmental issues play in fragility, conflict, and peace.

The Biden-Harris administration has hit the ground running with a number of executive orders, including lifting the “global gag rule.” In our second top post, Maternal Health Initiative Director, Sarah Barnes, highlights what the new administration signals for the status of women and girls globally and what the world can expect from the administration in the coming days.

Our fourth top post this month continues the theme of women’s empowerment globally. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, “Zero Hunger,” isn’t possible without achieving SDG 5, “Gender Equality.” Cindy Zhou illustrates the case of food security and gender equality in South Asia and explains why South Asian policymakers should consider a holistic approach to empowering women in agriculture.

Speaking of policy solutions, in 2018 China ended its role in recycling the world’s plastic waste, causing the United States, China, and other countries to rethink and reboot their waste infrastructure and financing to handle their single-use plastic waste. China Environment Forum rounds out the top 5 posts with an article by Meg Hassey, Richard Liu, and Clare Auld-Brokish that spotlights one policy solution that could put an end to plastic waste altogether. 

1. How We Misunderstand the Magnitude of Climate Risks – and Why That Contributes to Controversy by Peter Schwartzstein
2. What Does a Biden-Harris White House Mean for Women and Girls? Everything. by Sarah Barnes
3. Who Pays the Bill for Plastic Waste? by Meg Hassey, Richard Liu & Clare Auld-Brokish
4. Gender Equality and Food Security in Rural South Asia: A Holistic Approach to the SDGs by Cindy Zhou
5. New U.S. Global Fragility Strategy Recognizes Environmental Issues as Key to Stability by Lauren Herzer Risi