The Global Water Security Center will host author, environmental journalist, and researcher Peter Schwartzstein for a public talk examining how a changing climate is reshaping conflict, instability, and human security around the world for University of Alabama students, faculty, and the Tuscaloosa community.

Titled The Heat and the Fury: On the Frontlines of Climate Violence, the event will explore the growing links between environmental stress, water scarcity, and violence. As climate impacts intensify, communities already facing political or economic pressure are increasingly vulnerable to unrest. Schwartzstein’s reporting brings firsthand insight into how these dynamics play out on the ground, particularly in regions where access to water and food is becoming more uncertain.

Schwartzstein is an award winning journalist. He has reported extensively from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, with bylines in outlets including National Geographic, The New York Times, and Foreign Policy. His research and fieldwork highlight how environmental degradation is no longer a future risk, but a present driver of conflict and displacement.

The talk will address questions central to global water security, including how droughts, heat, and resource shortages interact with governance and social tensions, and what these trends mean for future policy and humanitarian responses. The discussion will be relevant to students and faculty across disciplines, as well as anyone interested in climate, security, and international affairs.

Event Details:

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

3:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Theater at the Student Center

RSVP today: https://universityofalabama.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eg1LkVA3rBCGIlw

Please reach out to Ally-Anna Outlaw, our Communications Specialist if you have any questions, aoutlaw@ua.edu.