The Heat and the fury: On the frontlines of climate violence
On 26 November 2024 (08:30-10:30), ECDPM is hosting the book launch of The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence by Peter Schwartzstein (Island Press).
Join us for the launch of The Heat and the Fury by Peter Schwartzstein, a groundbreaking exploration of how climate change is fueling violence and global unrest. Drawing on over a decade of reporting from conflict zones and climate-affected regions, Peter Schwartzstein brings to life the hidden yet devastating ways climate change exacerbates instability worldwide. From the drought-stricken villages of Iraq, where ISIS has weaponised environmental hardship, to the challenges posed by piracy in Bangladesh’ waters, Schwartzstein unpacks the intersections between environmental stress and human conflict.
Through vivid storytelling, he introduces us to the soldiers, farmers, women and intelligence operatives, among others, grappling with climate-driven crises. The narrative is as gripping as it is informative, shedding light on conflicts that remain poorly understood yet impact millions. Schwartzstein’s research journey was fraught with danger, from escaping kidnappers to being detained by authorities—an apt reflection of the simmering violence he documents in our warming world.
On 26 November, we are excited to welcome Peter Schwartzstein to our Brussels Office for an engaging breakfast session. Two distinguished discussants will share their perspectives on his book, followed by an interactive Q&A session with the audience.
Agenda
08:30-09:00
Arrival, coffee, and breakfast at the ECDPM office
09:00-09:20
Welcome and book presentation by Peter Schwartzstein, hosted by Hanne Knaepen
09:20-09:35
Response by Sophie Desmidt, Associate director, Peaceful societies and accountable governance, ECDPM
09:35-09:45
Response by Róisín Drury-Tully, Programme Manager, Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), European Commission
09:45-10:30
Open discussion and Q&A session with the audience
About the author
Peter Schwartzstein is an award-winning British-American journalist and researcher, who has reported on water, food security, and particularly the conflict-climate nexus across more than thirty countries in the Middle East, Africa, and occasionally further afield. His writing appears in National Geographic, the New York Times, BBC, Bloomberg Businessweek, and many other outlets. He is a Global Fellow with the Wilson Center's Environmental Change and Security Program, a TED fellow, and a fellow at the Center for Climate and Security. Based in Athens, Greece, he consults for UNDP, UNEP, and Amnesty International, among other organisations, and regularly speaks at climate security and other environmental conferences. This is his first book.