tatistics reveal a troubling pattern: G20 countries with the highest gender inequality regarding care responsibilities are also those most at risk from climate change. This intersection of gendered care work and climate risk exacerbates the vulnerability of caregivers – often women and girls (but, over the course of our lives, nearly everyone).

Every year, the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict reminds us to consider the often-neglected aspect of environmental toll that military actions take on our ecosystems, climate, and community health. Sadly, the war on Gaza stands as a striking example. The recent heavy bombardments by the Israeli military forces have left severe and lasting mark on the region’s ecosystems, contaminating water, soil, and air. Despite this, even with growing awareness and several side events organized mostly by civil society, official discussions at COP28 have largely missed the crucial issue of emissions from military actions and conflicts.

The Summit for the Future, held in September 2024, sought to reinforce multilateralism and reshape the international system to address today’s pressing global challenges, including climate change, inequality, and governance reform. Central to the summit’s outcomes was the Pact for the Future, a comprehensive framework designed to advance sustainable development, enhance peacebuilding efforts, and bolster human rights protections. A key focus was on peace and security reform, with specific attention to improving peace operations and addressing the root causes of conflict, such as poverty, inequality, and resource scarcity.

This article explores the dual-edged nature of this development, examining how the NATO office might contribute to advancing the WPS agenda by bringing resources while highlighting the risks of overshadowing gender equality efforts with a predominantly military focus. Furthermore, it considers the implications for civil society and the long-term impact on regional stability, questioning whether the NATO presence could inadvertently perpetuate conflict dynamics rather than fostering sustainable peace.

In a recent article published on March 6th, 2024 on the Middle East Institute website titled “A report card on women’s integration into Arab militaries”, Dina Arakji sheds light on the dynamics surrounding the integration of women into military and security sectors across the Arab region.

The presence of women in Arab legislatures has experienced a remarkable surge since the beginning of the 21st century

In the contemporary discourse surrounding leadership, the concept has assumed a multifaceted nature, defying singular and monolithic definitions.