Peace‚ Climate‚ and Sustainable Development

Through our work on peace, climate, and sustainable development, IPI provides a unifying platform and actively creates, encourages, and amplifies visionary, thought-provoking ideas and action-oriented solutions for peace. Since 2021, IPI’s work on strengthening climate governance has become a top institutional priority. By developing more effective climate diplomacy and leadership, enhancing multilateral climate finance, securing agreements on key climate policy files, and providing a new vision for the global governance of the future, IPI works to strengthen and preserve inclusive climate governance.  Partnership is at the heart of IPI’s work. IPI is grateful for the support of its many partners, including the Global Challenges Foundation, who have made this work possible.

  • Climate Action through Diplomacy‚ Leadership‚ and Partnership
    Time is running out to reach the Paris Agreement’s commitment to reducing global emissions by 45 percent by 2030. The remaining years between now and 2030 require radical and transformative action—not only on mitigation but also on adaptation and the issue of loss and damage. IPI’s project on climate action focuses on addressing the climate emergency through three main avenues: (1) works in collaboration with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); (2) advising additional small island developing states (SIDS) in climate negotiations and other global fora; (3) and convening events and conducting research on cutting-edge issues related to climate action, including legal avenues to fight climate change. Read more
  • Youth‚ Peace‚ and Climate Action
    Youth movements have played an increasingly prominent role in calling for action to address climate change. Many youth-led organizations from around the world are also engaged in initiatives to build peace and prevent violence in their communities. Overall, however, young people remain at the fringe of policymaking. They are usually sidelined rather than systematically included in decision-making fora, dialogues, and negotiations. Since 2020, IPI has been working to understand and address the intersection between youth, peace, and climate action through research, outreach, and convening. This project aims to build synergies and connections between the youth, peace, and security and the climate action agendas and to foster more meaningful engagement with youth leaders on peace and climate governance. It also aims to conduct evidence-based research on the impact of climate change on youth and the agency of youth in responding to climate-related risks and challenges. Read more
  • Universal Connectivity and Digital Inclusion
    Since 2021, IPI has worked in partnership with Microsoft’s Office of UN Affairs on a project entitled “Bridging the Digital Divide.” As part of that partnership, IPI and Microsoft organized a series of events that brought together representatives from governments, the United Nations, the private sector, international financial institutions, and civil society to discuss how the multi-stakeholder model can be used to bridge the digital divide, which many development actors now see as a prerequisite to meeting the Sustainable Development Goals. Read more

Staff

, Director of Global Initiatives and Head of Peace, Climate, and Sustainable Development

Jimena Leiva Roesch joined IPI in April 2015. From 2009 to March 2015, Jimena was at the Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the UN in New York, where she last served as Counselor. Guatemala and...

, Senior Adviser

Dr. Youssef Mahmoud is Senior Adviser at the International Peace Institute supporting the sustainable development and peace operations programs and serving as a focal point on mediation and...

, Senior Officer for the Executive Office

Nadia Al-Said joined IPI in 2016 and currently serves as Senior Officer for the Executive Office. Her responsibilities involve working with the President, Vice President, program directors, and...

, Senior Director of IPI MENA

Nejib Friji joined IPI in 2015 as Director of its Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Regional Office in Manama, Bahrain. In a career with the United Nations spanning 25 years, Mr. Friji began at...

, Policy Analyst

Dalya Al Alawi joined IPI in January 2018, where she is responsible for managing programs, concept notes and internships, monitoring budgets, providing support in research, and drafting the...

, Program Administrator

Aparajita (Pari) Rao is the Program Administrator for Peace, Climate and Sustainable Development at the International Peace Institute. She is based in New York, where she works full time on...

, Research Fellow

Michael Franczak is a Research Fellow in the Division of Peace, Climate, and Sustainable Development at IPI, where he leads work on climate and development finance and reform of the international...

, Non-resident Senior Adviser

Michael Weisberg is the Bess W. Heyman President’s Distinguished Professor and Chair of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania, where he is also Director of Postgraduate Programs at Perry...

, Program Coordinator

Olivia Fielding is the Program Coordinator for Peace, Climate, and Sustainable Development at the International Peace Institute. She is based in New York, where she works full-time on...

, Non-resident Senior Adviser

Youssef Nassef is the Director of the Adaptation Programme at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). He has led the adaptation workstreams under the United Nations...

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