Gender, Climate, Security

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

Gender dynamics, climate change, and security considerations are interconnected in complex and impactful ways. The policy and programming implications of the so-called “gender-climate-security nexus” for the promotion of gender equity, the mitigation of climate change, and the advancement of peace and security are increasingly being recognized. This seminar examines the key concepts, theories, and approaches underpinning the field of Gender, Climate and Security from policy, scholarship, and practice perspectives. Thematically, we will cover issues such as intersectionality, gendered climate security in the Global South, masculinities, ecofeminism and environmental justice, the securitization of the environment, climate (in)security and environmental disasters, migration as a climate change adaptation strategy, and environmental peacebuilding. Discussions and materials will also cover the emergence of legal and normative frameworks adopted by the UN system to address these issues and their relevance for policy-making. We will examine how global agendas (e.g., UNSCR 1325 and UNSCR 2250; the SDGs) are incorporated into National Action Plans (NAPs) and related initiatives in the US and abroad. Case studies will illustrate how the connections between intersectional gender, climate and security are being experienced in specific locations across the globe. Classes are run on an active discussion basis and full participation of students is expected. The course is suitable for everyone with an interest in issues of intersectional gender and climate security, and in conducting policy-relevant research in environmentally and politically fragile contexts, regardless of discipline or theoretical orientation.