ECo Talks: Eroding Sovereignty and Ecological Realism: How Climate Change is Making Fools of the Realists with Elizabeth L. Chalecki
Elizabeth L. Chalecki, Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Nebraska Omaha, a Research Fellow in the Environmental Change & Security Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center, and a Research Chair with Fulbright Canada, will present her talk, “Eroding Sovereignty and Ecological Realism: How Climate Change is Making Fools of the Realists,” as part of the ECo Talks series produced by the Earth Commons.
About the Speaker: Elizabeth L. Chalecki is an Associate Professor of International Relations at the University of Nebraska Omaha, a Research Fellow in the Environmental Change & Security Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center, and a Research Chair with Fulbright Canada. Her expertise lies in the areas of climate change and security, international environmental policy, and the intersection of science/technology and IR. Dr. Chalecki has authored groundbreaking research on geoengineering and just war, and has published over 25 books, articles, and book chapters on diverse topics such as climate change and Arctic security, environmental terrorism, climate change and international law, public perceptions of environmental issues, and water in outer space. She also serves as an environmental security subject matter expert for NATO. She was a Visiting Mellon Scholar for Environmental Studies at Goucher College, and has taught at Boston College, Cal State Hayward and the Monterey Institute of International Studies, and worked for the Pacific Institute, Environment Canada, the U.S. Department of Commerce, and the Brookings Institution. She holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law & Diplomacy at Tufts University, and an M.Sc. in Environmental Geography from the University of Toronto. She directs the Sustainability Academic Program for UNO. In 2023, she won the Alumni Excellence in Teaching Award from the UNO College of Arts & Sciences.
About the Talk:
Traditional international relations assumes a stable environmental backdrop, but climate change is upsetting every system our governments and societies rely on. Can we construct a new model of international affairs based on ecological realism?
IR theories assume that IR is played out on the stable backdrop of the environment. But now Climate Change, coming from our own development, is changing the environment.
Our failures to address cc with an int’l agreement show that we can’t cope with this problem while embracing the old assumptions: sovereignty, border security, non-interference, technological fixes, capitalism/economic development, growth.
It is not enough to tear down these assumptions. We need a new theory of IR that puts ecological stability and environmental protection at the heart of what we consider to be security.
We need ecological realism.
Event Details: Light refreshments will be provided. Free and open to all. No RSVP required. In person and online event Zoom ID 93082466514.
About the Series: Every Friday beginning on January 26th, ECo Talks features scholars, leaders and innovators sparking conversation, sharing knowledge, and spurring change. ECo Talks are presented by the Earth Commons Fridays 11:30 am – 12:30 pm in Arrupe Hall Conference Room. Learn more about the series >>
