Security depends on stable global commons
26/02/2026
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Dear Planetary Steward,
Last week’s Munich Security Conference offered us insight into how biodiversity loss and climate instability are slowly being accepted as core security threats on the global stage, with discussions about how they amplify conflicts, displace communities, and undermine geopolitical stability. California Governor Gavin Newsom emphasized the urgency to collaborate at the sub-national level in the face of increasingly unstable US leadership, through “partnerships that make California stronger, Americans safer, and our planet healthier.” He said: “Growth and security depend on democratic values, credibility, and climate action.”
But a fast-growing barrier to action is misinformation and disinformation. At a We Don’t Have Time panel discussion on how Europe can drive climate action in the age of digital disinformation, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson emphasized the need for new approaches to protect what she calls “cognitive security” as well as climate security. We also heard about a promising new social media platform called W, that is designed to address both. In a video interview, Anna Zeiter, CEO, W Social AB, explains: “What we need in the sustainability space is a trusted, fact-based dialogue. [..] We would like to give the algorithm back to the people.”
During the side event, Former President of Colombia Juan Manuel Santos also talked about the need to “make peace with nature”, otherwise making peace with humans “becomes irrelevant”, and expressed cautious optimism about Colombia’s upcoming International Conference on the Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels in April as a means to make faster progress alongside the UNFCCC process. However despite meaningful discussions, Chatham House analysis warned that climate and Earth system collapse was being pushed down the agenda at Munich Security Conference and diluted into security risk and economics – siloes that we need to break away from. The planetary emergency is a nexus crisis and it must have justice at its heart.
One lens to address this challenge through is gender. As many around the world will celebrate International Women’s Day next week, we must remember that true equity cannot exist without a safe and just planet. Women are disproportionately affected by environmental degradation and climate change, at the same time as being powerful agents of change in building sustainable futures. This weekend’s Our Health Our Planet summit, of which the Planetary Health Alliance is a collaborator, will exemplify this crucial connection, demonstrating how women’s health, planetary health, and ecosystem well-being are fundamentally intertwined. Building on this momentum the following week, Climate Bridges Open Forum on March 5 provides a vital platform to identify what must change at all levels to support women in shaping the future of just and resilient food systems.
As we navigate these interlinked challenges, the Global Commons Alliance remains committed to the vision that a safe and just world for women, children, and everyone on Earth is inseparable from a healthy planet. Our work continues to bridge science, policy, and action to create the systemic change needed for everyone to thrive. If you would like to collaborate or join the Alliance, please do get in touch to set up a call.
With all our best, Sebastian Schienle, Co-Director (Partnerships and Programs) and Will Tucker, Co-Director (Communications and Resource Mobilization)
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