Beyond Obstruction: Rethinking the Far Right and Climate Governance - Expert Blog | ENSURED Far-right governments are often assumed to obstruct global climate cooperation – but the reality is far more complex. When and why do some far-right leaders engage with international environmental ins...

Climate action 🤝 political left? Not necessarily.

In a new ENSURED blog, @ninahall.bsky.social (@johnshopkinssais.bsky.social) challenges the idea that the far right is inherently anti-environment. In reality, Hall argues, it's far more complex.

What does this mean for environmental governance?
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📣 📣 The ISA IO Section welcomes nominations for Excom positions. Deadline 30 Jan 2026. Please apply for:
-Secretary (1)
-Member-at-Large (3)
-Graduate Student Member-at-Large (1)

The link to very brief application form is: lnkd.in/e3XDN_84

Thanks for sharing widely!

Thanks to all who contributed w/ feedback! @ninareiners.bsky.social @hanspeterschmitz.bsky.social
@hahreejc.bsky.social @payoub.bsky.social @ninareiners.bsky.social @mer29-cam.bsky.social @mzdeloffre.bsky.social @kseniyaoksamytna.bsky.social
@lisasundstrom.bsky.social & many more!

✨New article out in International Studies Review✨

NGOs are facing backlash, shrinking civic space & increased competition. Here I examine how NGOs can respond by adding new legal entities; or changing funding models.

doi.org/10.1093/isr/...

China matches US contribution to Pacific environmental body a week after Trump pulls out The funding announcement comes a little over week since President Trump withdrew from SPREP.

When Trump withdrew last week from South Pacific Environmental Programme (SPREP) China stepped up immediately. China is giving US$200,000, matching the US contribution. One of many implications of US withdrawal from Intl' Orgs. @raffaelemstr.bsky.social

www.rnz.co.nz/internationa...

Neat to see "Beyond these Shores" a bk I edited on NZ foreign policy @ unity bks, local Wellington bookshop. Still available 5+ yrs after it came out!

Great collaboration with @tekuaka.bsky.social

Retreating from Internationalism

Last week Trump withdrew from 66 international orgs (formal and informal) & treaties. Here's a great analysis.

It's common practice for donors to review intl' institutions. BUT never seen such a mass withdrawal. @raffaelemstr.bsky.social @borzyskowski.bsky.social
share.google/eeZrt1pndwVf...

Final day of Winter School on AI & technology change. Students presented to Italian PM on UN Global Digital Compact.

Great collaboration btw SAIS Europe & Uni of Bologna! 🙏
@johnshopkinssais.bsky.social
@connect-unibo.bsky.social

So glad to see the Winter School on AI & Tech Change underway! 🌟
This is the second edition of this wonderful SAIS- @unibo.it collaboration - a project I’m truly proud of.

Huge thanks to my amazing colleague @ninahall.bsky.social and our fantastic students for making this such an inspiring journey

"Governing Digital China" Daniela Stockmann here @johnshopkinssais.bsky.social
to share her new book at
SAIS & UniBo Winter School on AI, and Technological Change.
@connect-unibo.bsky.social

*Winter School on AI & Tech Change gets going today.* @johnshopkinssais.bsky.social @connect-unibo.bsky.social

20 students from Uni of Bologna & SAIS Europe discussing how to regulate AI globally.

Great collaboration w/ @manuelamoschella.bsky.social & Alice Matttoni

**Deadline 15 Dec** for Workshop in Bologna, May 2026. @johnshopkinssais.bsky.social

Submit your abstract on "Obstructionism in International Organisations" co-hosted w/ @borzyskowski.bsky.social

Deets 👇

Thanks Geneva for a wonderful few days of conversations! Sad to hear extent & impact of massive cuts to #UN & #ICRC budgets. But woke this morning to fresh snow & these gorgeous clouds.

@ninareiners.bsky.social
@stephofmann.bsky.social

Reorienting climate litigation in a time of backlash - Nature Climate Change Restrictions on civil society may drive climate activists to shift from protest to litigation. However, challenges to judicial independence, deregulation and anti-climate litigation mean that activist...

Thanks Hans! We finish our article on #climate litigation pointing out that #climate movement needs to support #democracy movements, otherwise they'll have serious trouble in long term.

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Every generation gets to recreate the environmental movement to suit its own purposes Some big-picture reactions to a recent NYT piece

NYT ripped into the Sierra Club for going woke (abandoning #climate campaign for DEI).

Read @davekarpf.bsky.social on the actual challenge US #climate movement faces - esp. Erosion of democracy.
@hanspeterschmitz.bsky.social

davekarpf.substack.com/p/every-gene...

In London? Come along tonight "Governing the End" Lisa Vanhala's new book on #climate loss and damage. 18.30 @ucl.ac.uk

www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challe...

In a new Nature Climate Change comment, we call for reflection on the role and purpose of #climatelitigation in light of unfortunate trends of challenges to judicial independence, deregulation & anti-climate litigation

w/ @mer29-cam.bsky.social @highamian.bsky.social @ninahall.bsky.social

Reorienting climate litigation in a time of backlash - Nature Climate Change Restrictions on civil society may drive climate activists to shift from protest to litigation. However, challenges to judicial independence, deregulation and anti-climate litigation mean that activist...

Check out this new research paper "Reorienting climate litigation in a time of backlash" in @nature.com by @mer29-cam.bsky.social, @ninahall.bsky.social, Lisa Vanhala, Joana Setzer, @highamian.bsky.social & @harrovanasselt.bsky.social

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Neither Settler nor Native — Harvard University Press Prospect Top 50 Thinker of 2021British Academy Book Prize FinalistPROSE Award Finalist“Provocative, elegantly written.”—Fara Dabhoiwala, New York Review of Books“Demonstrates how a broad rethinking of...

Zohran Mamdani's won NYC mayoralty. Worthwhile reading his dad's book "Neither Settler nor Native", Harvard.

A fascinating account of how nation state intertwined with colonial state: making indigenous ppls "permanent minorities"

share.google/Tqcv0mEtRjyO...

A BIG thanks again to @highamian.bsky.social for coordinating this & being corresponding author!

Reorienting climate litigation in a time of backlash Nature Climate Change - Restrictions on civil society may drive climate activists to shift from protest to litigation. However, challenges to judicial independence, deregulation and anti-climate...

& here's the full article (view only link) : www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Reorienting climate litigation in a time of backlash - Nature Climate Change Restrictions on civil society may drive climate activists to shift from protest to litigation. However, challenges to judicial independence, deregulation and anti-climate litigation mean that activist...

Reorienting #Climate litigation in a time of backlash, shrinking civic space & challenges to judicial independence

Here's our take in Nature w/ Mette Eilstrup-Sangiovanni, Lisa Vanhala, Joana Setzer, Ian Higham & @harrovanasselt.bsky.social Great collaboration!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Had such a great and productive time with these amazing people in Rapallo for the Exploratory Symposia @europeanisa.bsky.social !

Perhaps we’re smiling too much for discussing the Far-Right in International Politics, but how can you blame us considering our project’s progresses and that view!

"Governing the End: The Making of Climate Change Loss & Damage"

In London next Weds? Join this book launch of new brilliant work by Lisa Vanhala @ucl.ac.uk

Looking fwd to it! @birshao.bsky.social

www.ucl.ac.uk/grand-challe...

Buongiorno Rapallo! #EISA what a spot!!

En route to Rapallo for #EISA working sessions.

Thanks to Lisbeth Zimmerman & @raffaelemstr.bsky.social for getting us time in a wonderful place to write!

That's right 👍 Bologna in May is fantastic!

In London? I'm speaking on Far Right and Global Environmental Politics. Thurs 6 Nov 2-3pm @soasuni.bsky.social

Please join! Deets below👇

Call for Papers Obstructionism in International Organizations Date: May 20-22 2026 Location: SAIS Europe, Bologna, Italy Hosts: Nina Hall (Johns Hopkins University, SAIS Europe) & Inken von Borzyskowski (University of Oxford) Aim: This workshop will bring toge...

Come to Bologna in May 2026 for Workshop on *Obstructionism in International Organizations* @johnshopkinssais.bsky.social

Co-organized w/ @borzyskowski.bsky.social @ox.ac.uk

Submit by Dec 15👇
docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Please spread the word 🙏

Thanks to @stephofmann.bsky.social & the IR crew @eui-eu.bsky.social for wonderful feedback!
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