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AGENDA
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WORK IN PROGRESS
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LIBRARY
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New Publication on 'African Environmental and Human Security'
IES Fellow Chad Briggs has co-authored a report with disease expert Jennifer Bath (Concordia College, USA), 'Environmental Security and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa'.
It was published recently as part of the book 'African Environmental and Human Security' in the 21st Century (Cambria Press), edited by US Naval Academy Professor Helen Purkitt. Briggs and Bath argue that traditional approaches to disease and security focused too narrowly on state stability and economic indicators, and ignored the complex systems within which diseases spread.
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IN THIS ISSUE
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EXPERTS DEBATE ON ILLEGAL E-WASTE TRADE AROUND THE GLOBE
IES takes part in the debate on e-waste exports and dumping
 On 27-30 May, IES Fellow Chad Briggs, participated in a meeting hosted by INTERPOL, the US EPA and Swedish government in Alexandria, Virginia on the topic of e-waste exports and dumping. Over 100 experts from police, environment, customs and trade agencies, including several NGOs, met at the largest-yet gathering to address the environmental and health problems of dumped electronic waste. E-waste is often generated when electronic goods are discarded rather than recycled, often ending in unregulated dumps in West Africa or Asia. Nearly 50 million tons of personal computers alone are disposed of each year, the E-Waste Crime Group estimates, a number which will grow significantly in the future.
E-waste contains numerous heavy metals, with a standard CRT-monitor containing up to several kilograms of lead. The assembled group was interested in how to prevent exports of such waste from North America and Europe, and force proper recycling of the materials. US EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson flew back to Washington from the Gulf Coast oil spill to address the meeting, calling on countries to enforce stricter toxic waste regulations, many of which are covered under the Basel Convention (which the US has not ratified).
THE GLOBAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
70 specialists meet at the European Commission to discuss the threats associated with climate change
 On 28 May, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) organised a meeting on “The Global Security Implications of Climate Change” within the framework of its “Transatlantic Dialogue on Climate Change and Security” at the European Commission in Brussels. The meeting, attended by around 70 people, also featured several IES representatives including Wouter Veening, Bernard Snoy and Géraud de Ville.
The opening session featured Ms Laurence Graff from DG Climate Action who shared her observations on the UNFCCC negotiations. Responding to the many concerns following the failure of Copenhagen to effectively address climate change, she insisted that Europe should continue to push for an international agreement but that in any case “at the end of the day, we need domestic policies”. Ms Graff ended her talk saying she that was slightly more optimistic than some of her colleagues since many countries are now working hard on domestic policies.
 CLIMATE CHANGE AND SOCIAL ORDER - EVOLUTION OR REVOLUTION
Students and personalities define specific action lines addressing sustainable solutions for global challenge
 On 17 May some outstanding personalities and forty selected students from all over Europe gathered at the St Gallen University for an internationally unique event to exchange their experience and ideas on the shift in social order in response to climate change.
IES research assistant Jonathan Solomon joined the event and actively dealt with the latest research from social, economical and political perspective. They were introduced by Prof. Dirk Lehmkuhl and Dr. Andreas Koestler who presented his work for the UN Disaster Assessment Coordination at the forefront of climate change impacts. Among the theoretical inputs Mrs Koko Warner from the United Nations University Bonn presented the latest results of their study on climate change and migration. Mrs Lindene Patton explained the strong influence of insurances on economic transactions, which are related to societal and natural risks. Finally Prof. Pattberg from the VU University Amsterdam gave an update about the changing architecture in climate change governance towards different agents from the private sector and civil society determining regulation.
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NEW: Report of expert workshop on '
Environmental Security for Poverty Alleviation: 
