Environmental PeaceTech: Framing a Space for Cautious Innovation in Climate-Conflict Settings

This paper explores the potential of Environmental PeaceTech (EPT) as a framing concept at the intersection of digital technologies and environmental peacebuilding. As digital tools are increasingly applied to address climate-related and conflict risks, their use in fostering environmental cooperation remains underdeveloped. At the same time, environmental peacebuilding continues to offer entry points where traditional peace approaches may fall short—particularly in fragile or low-trust contexts.

Rather than proposing a new subfield, this paper examines whether EPT can provide a useful lens to navigate complex and overlapping challenges. It highlights structural issues such as unequal data access, fragmented institutional engagement, and the limited inclusion of local actors. The analysis argues that for EPT to become meaningful in practice, it must centre participatory processes, challenge dominant power asymmetries, and remain grounded in the lived realities of affected communities.