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This policy brief outlines how Cyprus can leverage its Presidency of the Council of the European Union from January to June 2026 to advance EU-wide agendas on climate adaptation, water resilience, energy security, and transport decarbonisation, specifically reflecting its profile as an island state in the Eastern Mediterranean.

This policy brief by the Peace Research Institute Oslo examines the disconnect between national-level water diplomacy and local-level water disputes, particularly in regions affected by armed conflict and climate change. It argues that while transboundary treaties provide macro-level frameworks, they often fail to address local allocation issues, which can be exacerbated by environmental stressors and political instability. The document advocates for a multi-level governance approach that integrates grassroots initiatives, technological innovation, and scientific research to build climate resilience and prevent conflict.

This policy brief from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) examines how shifting geopolitical dynamics, rising global antagonism, and a shrinking space for civil society are hindering the momentum of humanitarian disarmament. Based on practitioner interviews and workshops, the document argues that the humanitarian disarmament community must adapt its strategies, funding models, and communication methods to remain effective in a more complex and polarized global environment.

This policy brief from the Peace Research Institute Oslo examines how large-scale renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar, often violate the rights of Indigenous Peoples, reproducing colonial patterns of resource extraction termed 'green colonialism'. The authors argue that a just energy transition requires the recognition of Indigenous self-determination and the strict application of free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC).

This policy brief examines the risk of a "green resource curse" in Africa, where the transition to renewable energy and the extraction of critical minerals could trigger conflict if poorly managed. Based on a study of 48 Sub-Saharan countries, the authors identify five categories of legal protections—land and resource rights, environmental and social protections, compensation and benefit sharing, access to information and participation, and access to justice—that are essential for mitigating these risks. While many countries have adopted basic protections, the brief emphasizes that legal frameworks alone are insufficient without institutional capacity, political will, and effective enforcement.

This policy brief examines the intersection of climate change, gender, and insecurity, arguing that extreme weather events exacerbate existing structural vulnerabilities and gender power dynamics, leading to increased gender-based violence (GBV). The author highlights significant knowledge gaps regarding causal links and the experiences of gender minorities, calling for more robust, sub-national data collection and the translation of international commitments, such as the UN Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda, into practical, gender-sensitive disaster relief and adaptation policies.

This policy brief by Emine Eminel Sülün, published by the Peace Research Institute Oslo and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Cyprus, argues that a strong water governance framework is essential for water security and conflict avoidance in the Mediterranean region. It notes that the current effort to establish an intra-regional framework is hindered by a proliferation of independent regional initiatives and advocates for multi-level, context-specific policies.

This statement introduces a commentary by the Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI) that proposes a coordinated approach to the energy transition within the Euro-Mediterranean area, emphasizing the need for long-term partnerships and structural change to support the European Union's 2050 climate neutrality goal.

This policy brief from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) examines the 'green resource curse' in Africa, where the transition to renewable energy and the mining of green technology minerals may trigger various levels of conflict. The authors identify three primary conflict trajectories: the establishment of renewable energy projects, the mining of minerals for green technology, and the production and distribution of renewable energy. While many resulting conflicts are local and non-violent, the brief warns of the potential for large-scale civil conflict, organized crime, and geopolitical tensions as the global energy balance shifts.

This research paper discusses the controversy surrounding the inclusion of climate change on the United Nations Security Council agenda and proposes using the IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) to establish a shared scientific understanding of climate change as a risk to peace and security.

This statement by researchers at the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) argues that the transition to green energy risks replicating the destructive socio-environmental patterns of the fossil fuel era. The authors highlight that the extraction of minerals for renewable technologies causes significant ecological damage and social conflict, and they advocate for a broader definition of 'energy justice' that addresses these imbalances.

This research paper examines the relationship between precipitation variability, local growing seasons, and patterns of violence during the Syrian civil war from 2011 to 2019, specifically analyzing conflict events across 272 subdistricts.

This research paper analyzes climate finance coordination in Zambia, noting that while multilateral donors have helped establish frameworks, competing approaches from the World Bank and UNDP have caused institutional fragmentation. It highlights a shift in authority to the Ministry of National Development Planning and identifies critical gaps in project tracking and civil society coordination.

This PhD thesis examines the historical relationship between climate impacts and violent conflict to determine if climate change will increase future conflict prevalence. The author argues that the effects of climate shocks are context-dependent, primarily impacting communal conflicts in resource-scarce areas with poor government services, and emphasizes that continued socio-economic development is essential to mitigating future climate-driven conflict.

This policy brief from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) argues that violent conflict in Africa is driven by the politics of water distribution and poor governance rather than physical water scarcity. While the continent faces significant environmental vulnerability and water stress, the authors find that scarcity often leads to cooperation rather than conflict. Instead, insecurity arises when water is managed as a 'club good,' favoring politically connected groups and allowing informal service providers, such as gangs and militias, to control access in urban areas.

The document characterizes the Paris agreement as a balance between aggressive emission reductions and the principle of differentiation between developed and developing nations, emphasizing financial mobilization and the empowerment of the poorest populations for sustainable development.

This research paper evaluates the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report's treatment of the relationship between climate change and conflict, noting improvements over previous reports but highlighting internal inconsistencies and a lack of probability assessments.

This research paper examines the relationship between shared river systems and interstate conflict, utilizing data added to the Correlates of War contiguity dataset. While the study finds that sharing a river increases the probability of militarized disputes and armed conflict beyond simple contiguity, it notes that this risk factor is smaller than the effect of contiguity itself.

This executive summary examines the energy security challenges facing India and China, focusing on their increasing dependence on imported oil and the resulting geopolitical implications for their domestic and foreign policies.

This policy brief from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) argues that scientific evidence, specifically from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6), supports the engagement of the UN Security Council (UNSC) with climate change. The authors aim to counter claims by some Council members that there is no clear scientific basis for linking climate change to security concerns, asserting that climate change constitutes a real risk to international peace and security.