Editorial Klaus Toepfer, Executive Director, UNEP Waking up Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, President of the Republic of Maldives, describes the effect of the tsunami on his country, and warns that global warming poses an even greater threat to environmental security Planting security Wangari Maathai, tells Geoffrey Lean how trees make peace and how deforestation and degradation of the land lead to conflict Natural peace Massoumeh Ebtekar, Vice-President and Head of the Department of Environment, Islamic Republic of Iran, stresses the crucial, neglected role of the feminine factor in achieving peace, environmental protection and sustainable development People No procrastinating on climate Joseph Lieberman, United States Senator from Connecticut, calls for leadership to accept the challenge of global warming and use market forces to reduce emissions Attracting private investment Melinda L. Kimble, Senior Vice President for Programs, United Nations Foundation Reshaping the energy and security debate R. James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence and member of the Advisory Council of the Energy Future Coalition, outlines the dangers of dependence on oil and points to increased efficiency and alternative fuels as the answerThe world’s oil market and its transportation infrastructure should be at the centre of the debate about energy and security At a glance: Environmental security Star profile: Salman Ahmad Lead guitarist of Junoon, Pakistan’s top rock band

How many Earths? Jacqueline McGlade, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, describes how Europe’s standard of living is rooted in the overuse of resources from other parts of the world, and calls for an eco-efficiency revolution Green helmets Pekka Haavisto, Chairman of the Afghanistan, Occupied Palestinian Territories, Depleted Uranium and Iraq projects, UNEP, describes how post-conflict environmental assessments are aiding recovery and promoting peace Books and products Initiative for change Jan Kubis, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, describes a pioneering endeavour addressing environment and security threats in the Southern Caucasus Security in turbulence Tamar Lebanidze, Minister of Environment Protection and Natural Resources, Georgia, describes how environment and security concerns can lead to fruitful cooperation, even in one of the world’s most turbulent regions Water and war Steve Lonergan, Director of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment, UNEP, says that tensions over water will increase as scarcity increases, but that outright conflict can be avoided Beating the ‘resource curse’ Emil Salim, former Environment Minister of Indonesia and professor at the postgraduate course on environment at the University of Indonesia, Jakarta, describes how environmentally, socially and economically sustainable development is needed to avoid conflicts over resources Green peace Max B. Katta, 23, Sierra Leone Extra web-only article: It’s poverty, stupid Jenny Clover, Senior Researcher at the African Security Analysis Programme, Institute for Security Studies, South Africa, argues that globalization and inequality are increasing human, and thus environmental, insecurity