Published in 2024, The Burning Question: Climate and Conflict – Why Does It Matter? is Andrew Gilmour’s searing analysis of how climate justice and political conflict interact. In writing that is both sobering and optimistic, Gilmour makes clear why we need to take actions that address both together.

Join us for this timely discussion between Gilmour and broadcaster Paddy O’Connell, combining a number of The Conduit’s key focuses, from climate and sustainability, to peace and security, to refugees and migration. Using The Burning Question as a jumping-off point, their conversation will address both political and practical issues, examining how we can ensure that efforts to address the climate crisis advance sustainable peace.

Event Schedule

6:00pm: Pre-event socialising and networking

A cash bar will be available for refreshments.

6:15pm: Event begins

7:30pm: Event ends

Speakers:

Andrew Gilmour was the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights 2016-2019.  He is currently the Chair of United Staff for Gaza.  From 2020-25 he was Executive Director of the Berghof Foundation in Berlin.  Prior to that, he was Political Director in the Office of the UN Secretary-General in New York, and held senior UN positions in numerous conflict zones including Iraq, South Sudan, the Middle East, the Balkans, Afghanistan and West Africa.

In 2020, Andrew was named a Visiting Fellow of All Souls College Oxford a Senior Fellow of SOAS.  He has published articles in a wide range of publications in the US, the UK and Germany, including the Economist, the New York Times, the Financial Times, the Times, the Guardian, the Spectator, the Independent, Der Spiegel etc.

Paddy O’Connell presents BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House. He was a local radio reporter in Devon, Essex and Cleveland and worked on the launch of Five Live. He was a reporter for The World, a US-based daily programme and later a host on LBC. As BBC Wall Street Correspondent, he lived and worked in the USA for eight years, and reported from New York during the attacks of 9/11. He is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.