Center for American Progress

ADVISORY: Climate Change, Migration, and Security: Challenges and Policy Options in Northwest Africa
Press Advisory

ADVISORY: Climate Change, Migration, and Security: Challenges and Policy Options in Northwest Africa

Washington, D.C. — On April 18 the Center for American Progress will host an event to discuss the new report, "Climate Change, Migration, and Conflict in Northwest Africa: Rising Dangers and Policy Options Across the Arc," which finds that the intersection of climate change, human migration, and conflict in Northwest Africa presents a unique challenge for U.S. foreign policy in the 21st Century. This paper, to be released at this event, will outline an “arc of tension” that links Nigeria, Niger, Algeria, and Morocco and illustrates the combined stresses of climate change with existing migratory routes and instability.

These three factors are already beginning to combine in ways that undermine traditional understandings of national security and demand a rethink of traditional divisions between diplomacy; defense; and economic, social, and environmental development policy abroad. Addressing this nexus—of climate change, migration, and conflict—will be a core challenge of this century. As the number of migrants, driven in part by environmental degradation, continues to grow, the adaptive capacity of states worldwide will be strained and new security gaps will appear in which nonstate actors have the potential to flourish. Addressing this challenge will require understanding, preparation, and new models of regional cooperation.

Please join the Center for American Progress for this event to discuss the findings of the new report, "Climate Change, Migration, and Conflict in Northwest Africa: Rising Dangers and Policy Options Across the Arc of Tension," and welcome a panel of experts in conversation about these closely related issues and the path forward to a new, 21st century policy approach to these pressing problems.

WHO:

Introductory remarks:

Senator Tom Daschle, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Panelists:

Dr. Katherine Batten, Global Climate Change Coordinator, USAID

Sherri Goodman, Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, Center for Naval Analyses; Executive Director, CNA Military Advisory Board

Michael Werz, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Moderator:

Marcus D. King, Associate Research Professor of International Affairs and Associate Director of Research, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University

WHEN:

Wednesday, April 18, 2012
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Space is extremely limited. RSVP required.
Seating is on a first-come, first-served basis and not guaranteed.

WHERE:

Center for American Progress
1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20005
Map & Directions

Nearest Metro: Blue/Orange Line to McPherson Square or Red Line to Metro Center

RSVP

RSVP to attend this event

For more information, please contact Christina DiPasquale at [email protected].

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