Environmental Peacebuilding 31Years Strong

This week, thirty-one years ago, Jordanian, Palestinian, and Israeli environmentalists came together on the Red Sea in Taba, Egypt, to create EcoPeace Middle East. We came together out of fear from overdevelopment – we were euphoric about peace but determined to make sure that it would be equally beneficial to nature as it would be to people.

We were early responders to those out to block peace from taking root. We developed people-to-people programs focused on overlapping self-interests around our shared environment to build trust and advance solutions. The academic term environmental peacebuilding was developed based on learnings drawn from EcoPeace programming. Even in the midst of this horrific Gaza war, we continued to bring local leadership, experts, educators, and young professionals together, based on that same truth that the environment knows no borders.

Our research and advocacy have involved us in the most important global events in our region, not only on the environmental agenda but on policy as well. Twice we were invited to present our ideas before the UN Security Council. We are sought after experts in the policy field of environmental peace education, water and sanitation management and renewable energy diplomacy, especially in the midst of conflict.  Investments in new water supply, sanitation, renewable energy, and ecological rehabilitation have been made due to the partnerships and political agreements we have helped foster. Not only was EcoPeace the thought leader behind the governments signing of the Project Prosperity and Jordan River Rehabilitation memorandum of understandings, we continue to help steer these agreements towards their implementation. We are humbled to have been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024 and 2025.

As we enter our 32nd year we well recognize the challenges ahead – the high level of public suffering and  disillusionment, the power held in the hands of those seeking to prevent peace, and the extent of ecological demise in our region. In light of these challenges we recognize our responsibility to continue to evaluate, learn lessons, and redesign our approach. That is why over these last two years, we have launched our most transformative agenda ever: the Peace Triangle addition to IMEC. The Peace Triangle is a practical vision for advancing economic, climate, and security objectives while prioritizing Gaza rebuilding, the Two State solution, and regional integration.

The story of EcoPeace proves that with enough dedication, the obstacles to mutually beneficial cooperation and proper environmental stewardship can be overcome. More broadly it shows the essential contribution of civil society groups in general to the betterment of society, in our case to environmental protection and peace building. At a time when governments are considering to curtain the ability of civil society to operate and receive funding, and when welfare and security issues are being increasingly defined by a narrow set of interests, it’s important to look back and evaluate. As is the case with the shared nature of our environment our collective survival depends on it.