New Security Beat was launched in 2007 by the Environmental Change and Security Program, which was housed at the Wilson Center in Washington, DC, from 1994 to April 2025. Today, New Security Beat is hosted by the Stimson Center’s Environmental Security Program, where it serves as a go-to resource for policymakers, development and security practitioners, scholars, and industry representatives seeking to better understand the intersection of environment, climate change, demographic trends, health, and security.

Known for covering issues that are often overlooked and underreported, New Security Beat features articles that highlight cutting-edge research, provide evidence-based analysis, and offer policy relevant recommendations with the goal of unpacking the complexity around today’s non-traditional security connections.

New Security Beat also serves as a platform for original videos, podcast interviews, and special columns, including:

• The Dot-Mom column provides in-depth focus and analysis on global health and gender, maternal mortality, and reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health.
• The China Environment Forum explores the environmental footprint of China’s domestic and overseas investments, US and China climate action and clean energy competition, and how China and Southeast Asia can close the loop on plastic waste.

ADVISORY BOARD:

Geoff Dabelko, Professor, Environmental Studies, Voinovich School, Ohio University 

Kathleen Mogelgaard, President and CEO, Population Institute

Schuyler Null, Senior Communications Manager, WRI Ross Center for Sustainable Cities

Meaghan Parker, Executive Director, Council for the Advancement of Science Writing

Jennifer D. Sciubba,  President and CEO, Population Reference Bureau 

Erika Weinthal, President, Environmental Peacebuilding Association; John O. Blackburn Distinguished Professor, Nicholas School for the Environment, Duke University

EDITORIAL STAFF:

Lauren Herzer Risi // Managing Editor

Sarah Barnes // Senior Editor, Maternal Health Initiative

Jennifer Turner // Senior Editor, China Environment Forum

Claire Doyle // Assistant Editor

Deekshita Ramanarayanan // Assistant Editor

Angus Soderberg // Assistant Editor

Richard Byrne // Consulting Editor

New Security Beat currently has three primary focus areas:

Environmental Security and Peacebuilding: Natural resources, including water, are factors in conflict and affect national and international security. Climate change is expected to act as a risk multiplier in unstable countries and contexts. Yet environmental interdependence can be a powerful incentive for cooperation and peacebuilding.

Sustainable Development and Climate Resilience: Ending poverty and building the capacity of people to respond to shocks requires a transdisciplinary approach. Addressing environmental change and climate impacts is a critical component of sustainable development. NSB highlights efforts to empower vulnerable populations to address the effects of climate change and helps policymakers and program managers find ways to preserve critical natural resources while providing for people.

Population Dynamics: Global population dynamics such as migration, youth bulges, and urbanization can affect political stability, conflict trends, and environmental vulnerability. NSB serves as a forum for sharing new research and practical rights-based policies and programs on population-health-environment connections and demographic security.