| Greetings! Today, the 28th annual UN Climate Summit convenes in Dubai. Last year, COP27 took place not quite a year into Russia's war in Ukraine. That conflict sparked an energy crisis, pushing many countries to resume coal-fired power generation. Besides the direct environmental impacts of the war on Ukraine—which are not insignificant—we also know that war means increased carbon emissions. One report found that the first year of the war in Ukraine released 120 million metric tons of greenhouse gasses—an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of a country like Belgium. This year's COP is taking place in the context of continued conflict in Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas war. And while they get less media attention, there are a number of ongoing violent conflicts around the globe (one estimate puts the number at 45), many of these in parts of the world that are also on the frontlines of climate change. From our own work at ECSP, we know how important it is to understand and address the connections between climate change and conflict. Climate impacts can worsen the drivers of conflict, while conflict undermines countries and communities' ability to withstand climate impacts (let alone invest in adaptation and the renewable energy transition). But these links mean that there is also an opportunity through climate action to build peace and improve governance. So, it's not insignificant that this year's COP is the first to include a thematic day (December 3) dedicated to conflict and disaster. The UAE is expected to share a declaration on that day calling for immediate action and urgent funding to build climate resilience for people affected by conflict and disasters. This means, among other things, ensuring that climate action is conflict-sensitive and that climate finance reaches fragile and conflict-affected places. As COP28 gets underway, we encourage you to explore our new climate-related content, shared below. And stay tuned–together with our Middle East Program colleagues, ECSP will be in the UAE next week with our Agents of Change Youth Fellows, whose research is contributing to the next generation of climate action in the MENA region. Lauren Risi Director, Environmental Change & Security Program | 
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