Episode 59: What solutions do we have when the world is burning? Building peace and resilience amid converging crises

Europe is experiencing another summer of extreme heat, drought and wildfires. Across the world, communities are also facing record temperatures, intense rainfall, floods, landslides and tropical cyclones. These climate impacts are unfolding alongside intensifying conflict, geopolitical uncertainty and shrinking development and climate finance, creating overlapping pressures for communities, institutions and emergency responders. In this episode, hosts Alexandra Steinkraus and Josephine Collier explore how climate change, conflict and financial pressures are converging, and ask how peacebuilding and climate action can respond together rather than separately. Drawing on lessons from the Weathering Risk Peace Pillar, they discuss what integrated climate, environment, peace and security programming looks like in practice. The conversation explores natural resource peace agreements in Nigeria, water sharing initiatives in Iraq, climate sensitive agriculture and the ways in which one investment can strengthen peace, resource management, livelihoods and social cohesion at the same time. Alexandra and Josephine also reflect on what makes these approaches effective, durable and relevant across very different contexts. This episode was recorded before the devastating flash floods and landslides in Nepal on 26 August 2026. Further resources Weathering Risk Peace Pillar: (initiative info), (evaluation syntheses), (5 lessons policy brief) and (impact stories) More about the OSCE project Strengthening Responses to Security Risks from Climate Change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia (overview, stories, news and publications) More information on the current wildfire situation in Europe © adelphi global, all rights reservedadelphi global (https://adelphi-global.de/en) is an economically and politically independent, non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting sustainability, enhancing environmental protection, improving education, expanding development cooperation, and strengthening international collaborations. Our commitment is reflected in targeted projects, in-depth analyses, and informative educational events, through which we strive for a just and sustainable world.Editing by Paulus Müller-Hahl (Lichtbilder)