The Center for Strategic and International Studies has published a new report entitled “Clear Gold – Water as a Strategic Resource in the Middle East”. It predicts that water is the most likely source of future political and social unrest in the Middle East. Complementary video and audio clips summarize the arguments and provide commentary on current developments in Egypt.

Closely related, a study by the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, "Managing Blue Gold: New Perspectives to Water Security in the Levantine Middle East", stresses the urgent need for cooperative water management policies.

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution regarding EU policy in the Arctic region. It calls for a coordinated Arctic policy at the EU level, and makes recommendations with respect to research funding, the management of natural resources, multilateral governance, transport routes, and the role of indigenous people.

The International Institute for Strategic Studies has presented its finalreport on the“Transatlantic Dialogue on Climate Change and Security”. The report concludes that the impacts of climate change pose a clear threat to collective security and global order in the first half of the century.

The International Institute for Environment and Development has released a new study entitled "Land Deals in Africa: What is in the Contracts?". The report analyses the contracts of 12 land deals. It finds that contractual issues of the acquisition of land by agribusiness, investment funds, and government agencies have important repercussions on food security of the local population, and emphasizes that their participation in the negotiation process is crucial.

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, 1/2011