Sustainability in the Shadow of War – Program for 2026–27 Winter and the 2027 Summer Term

Climate change, geopolitical tensions, wars, energy insecurity and social polarization are increasingly intertwined. Current armed conflicts also demonstrate that environmental destruction, damaged infrastructure and humanitarian crises cannot be viewed in isolation from issues of sustainable development. This is particularly evident in Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine as well as in the attacks on energy infrastructure in Iran and its neighboring countries. Both can be associated with significant environmental and health risks. Sustainability policy must therefore be viewed in the context of multiple crises, some of which reinforce one another.

Against this backdrop, the planned series of events explores the intersection of sustainability with war as well as environmental and resource conflicts. The focus lies on concepts such as human security, climate security and resilience, which view security not only in military terms but also as the protection of livelihoods, infrastructure, the environment and societal capacity to withstand crises.

In both terms, the series addresses these international interlinkages under the title “Sustainability in the Shadow of War”. Through a dialogue among guest speakers, researchers and students, the topic is discussed in the tension between normativity and normality and complemented by an interdisciplinary perspective in peace and security policy.

The event series is organized in collaboration with, among others, the Chair of Social Science Sustainability Research, the Chair of International Relations and European Studies, the Security Policy Forum, the Initiative for Foreign and Security Policy Würzburg (IASW), the Federal Association for Security Policy at Universities (BSH) and the German Atlantic Society (DAG).

These events count toward the GSiK certificates “Intercultural Competence” (Areas B and C) and “Sustainability and Global Responsibility”.  
 

Events for the 2026–27 Winter Term 

• Der Einfluss des Klimawandels auf die internationale Sicherheit 
  (in German; “The Impact of Climate Change on International Security”)
  Mo, 09.11.2026, 18:00 - 20:00
   
• Total Preparedness: Zur Neubestimmung von Sicherheit im Kontext hybrider Bedrohungen und der Klimakrise Podiumsdiskussion
  (in German; "Total Preparedness: Redefining Security in the Context of Hybrid Threats and the Climate Crisis”)
  Mo, 18.01.2027, 18:00 - 20:00

A continuation of the series with additional events is planned for the summer term 2027.