Environmental factors have been increasingly implicated in analyses of development, peace and conflict situations. There is mounting concern over the extent to which environmental stress is threatening livelihoods, health and the fulfillment of basic needs, and harming the sustainability and resilience of fragile ecosystems. Environmental degradation is intensifying conflict and competition over natural resources, aggravating social tensions, and in certain volatile situations, provoking or escalating violence and conflict.

There is a major deficit of skilled and motivated people who fully understand the complex issues involved and their inter-linkages and can define and manage the necessary actions to reduce the threats to peace arising from environmental degradation and growing competition for resources. There are therefore many opportunities where motivated individuals will be able to follow productive and satisfying careers while making valuable contributions to improving the prospects for peace and environmental security across the world.

Objectives
The Masters in Environmental Security and Peace has been designed to:

• Offer a graduate programme that addresses the interface of environmental degradation, peace and security to students who are continuing their education or professional work in government, inter-governmental institutions, educational or training institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector or the media etc.
• Prepare qualified professionals who are able to define the specific nature of the threats to peace and security posed by environmental degradation and who can develop, adapt and implement appropriate approaches and solutions in their local contexts to avert and respond to critical threats to environmental security.
• Graduate professionals who have a sufficient knowledge base and skills related to environmental security to teach competently in the field, to undertake high quality research on environmental security issues, and to develop and implement sound management and policy decisions.

Student Exit Profile
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Articulate and critique key theoretical and conceptual dimensions related to environmental security including the relationships between environmental security, development, prevention of conflict, and peace-building;
• Apply quantitative and qualitative methodologies to analyze scientific, ecological, political, economic, social, and cultural dimensions of key environmental security issues;
• Identify and evaluate management options, supportive institutional, legal and policy regimes, governance reform, and other appropriate measures to strengthen environmental security at various scales.

To read more visit the UPEACE website or click here to Apply Now.