07 November 2025
CLIMATE ONE: Environmental Peacebuilders Working in the Midst of War
Commonwealth Club of California Podcast
About
Fossil-fueled climate disruption is driving political instability around the world. The relationship between climate disasters and conflict are well-established — and also complicated. Even in war-torn regions like Israel and Palestine, people work across political and ethnic divides to address humanitarian and climate crises. The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies has helped bring together Israelis, Palestinians, Moroccans, and Jordanians to study and tackle shared environmental challenges. How does climate disruption reshape cross-border relations? And can climate cooperation become a force for peace?
Episode Guests:
Peter Schwartzstein, Environmental Journalist; Climate Security Researcher
Fareed Mahameed, Assistant Director, Center for Transboundary Water Management, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
Liana Berlin-Fischler, Associate Director, Center for Applied Environmental Diplomacy, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
Highlights:
12:42 Peter Schwartzstein on seeing the link between climate and violence
21:02 Peter Schwartzstein on the importance of governance
22:56 Peter Schwartzstein on better governance examples
27:17 Peter Schwartzstein on the danger of climate induced violence in the US
31:13 Peter Schwartzstein on new paths for cooperation
36:49 Liana Berlin-Fischler on moving to Israel
37:59 Fareed Mahameed on “fixing the world”
42:16 Fareed Mahameed on being compelled to help
47:05 Fareed Mahameed on figuring out what a community needs most
51:30 Liana Berlin-Fischler on the Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza project
*****
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads
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Episode Guests:
Peter Schwartzstein, Environmental Journalist; Climate Security Researcher
Fareed Mahameed, Assistant Director, Center for Transboundary Water Management, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
Liana Berlin-Fischler, Associate Director, Center for Applied Environmental Diplomacy, Arava Institute for Environmental Studies
For show notes and related links, visit ClimateOne.org.
Highlights:
12:42 Peter Schwartzstein on seeing the link between climate and violence
21:02 Peter Schwartzstein on the importance of governance
22:56 Peter Schwartzstein on better governance examples
27:17 Peter Schwartzstein on the danger of climate induced violence in the US
31:13 Peter Schwartzstein on new paths for cooperation
36:49 Liana Berlin-Fischler on moving to Israel
37:59 Fareed Mahameed on “fixing the world”
42:16 Fareed Mahameed on being compelled to help
47:05 Fareed Mahameed on figuring out what a community needs most
51:30 Liana Berlin-Fischler on the Jumpstarting Hope in Gaza project
*****
Support Climate One by going ad-free! By subscribing to Climate One on Patreon, you’ll receive exclusive access to all future episodes free of ads, opportunities to connect with fellow Climate One listeners, and access to the Climate One Discord. Sign up today.
Ad sales by Multitude. Contact them for ad inquiries at multitude.productions/ads
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices