Entries by Stephanie Govaerts

Interview with Professor F. Gregory Gause III on The Israel-Hamas Conflict and the Crisis of the Greater Middle East: Impact on US foreign policy and transatlantic relations.

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On December 7, HCSS had the honour to host Prof. F. Gregory Gause III for a new Transatlantic Dialogue on The Israel-Hamas War and the Crisis of the Greater Middle East: Impact on US foreign policy and transatlantic relations. HCSS had the pleasure of interviewing Professor Gause as part of our Transatlantic Dialogue series, organised by HCSS senior strategic analyst Paul van Hooft together with the Embassy of the United States in the Netherlands, which looks at how the relationship between Europe and the United States can be adapted to the geopolitical realities on the 21st century. Watch the full interview here.

Looking back at the 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference – COP28

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The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP28, was held from 30 November until 12 December 2023, at the Expo City, Dubai. The conference has been held annually since the first UN climate agreement in 1992, and is intended for governments to agree on policies to limit global temperature rises and adapt to impacts associated with climate change.  

HCSS was honoured to have hosted and co-hosted several events during the COP28. HCSS participation at the COP28 aims to highlight research methods, good practice, and findings that could support decision makers when discussing climate-related security challenges and determining the course of action for the next years.

COP28 | “Winning with Water – Tools that support conflict sensitive adaptation” panel

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On December 10, HCSS participated in a panel discussion on “Winning with Water – Tools that support Conflict Sensitive Adaptation” on December 10. It was co-organised by HCSS, Deltares and Wetlands International under the umbrella of the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership. The event highlighted best practices and lessons learnt from using innovative methods and tools to support timely, informed, and inclusive adaptation action in regions prone to water-related conflict by using examples from WPS engagement in Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Iraq. 

COP28 | “Water for peace and security: From risk to resilience” high level panel

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On December 10, HCSS analyst Irina Patrahau participated in a high-level panel discussion on “Water for Peace and Security: From Risk to Resilience”. Together with the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the event highlighted the global issue of water scarcity as a fundamental threat to human health, peace, and security. The participants of the panel aimed to raise the issue at the highest political levels and showcase innovative solutions and strategies addressing water scarcity and local, national, and transboundary water management.

COP28 | “The climate-extremism nexus in Iraq: challenges and opportunities for peacebuilding” panel

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On December 9, HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau moderated a panel discussion “The Climate-Extremism Nexus in Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities for Peacebuilding”. The event was co-organised by HCSS and the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership, in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, & the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Association (KNMI). The event brought together experts to discuss challenges and opportunities associated with climate security interventions and inform smart, conflict sensitive, inclusive strategies.

COP28 | Water-Energy-Food Security Serious Game

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On December 8, HCSS hosted an in-person moderated Serious Game together with the Arab Youth Green Voices and the Netherlands Embassy in Jordan on the case study of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. The game stimulates a situation whereby participants act as decision makers tasked with the challenge of mitigating the impact of water, energy, and food-related risks, as well as increasing the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities.

COP28 | “Political and Strategic Issues Challenging International Climate Action” panel

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On December 4, HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau moderated the panel discussion “Political and Strategic Issues Challenging International Climate Action”, as part of the first session of the TRENDS-Atlantic Council 3rd Annual Conference on Sustainable Security: The Soft and Hard Implications of Climate Action.

The session brought together insights from a diverse group of panelists to discuss the political and strategic issues challenging climate action.

TIME | Collin Meisel: Can China’s Baby Bust Be Reversed? Don’t Count On It

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Once a one-child policy state, China is now faced with the “baby bust” challenge. Amid fears of economic imbalances and societal implications, the nation is prioritsing efforts to boost fertility rates. This Time article explores how the interplay of various factors, from changing societal norms and economic pressures to the legacy of decades-long population control policies, has contributed to a significant drop in birth rates. This article delves into the dynamics surrounding China’s demographic transformation, examining its potential ramifications on the country’s workforce, aging population, and its ability to remain engaged in great-power competition.