Founded in 2009, Columbia University’s Advanced Consortium on Cooperation, Conflict, and Complexity (AC4) has been at the forefront of research in the area of multidisciplinary research aimed at addressing complex global problems related to peace, conflict, violence, and sustainability. Expression of an ongoing collaboration with the Sant'Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue, the Cooperative Nuclear Disarmament and Sustainability Initiative (CNDSI) focuses on actual cases of cooperative nuclear disarmament and their impacts on sustainability through four lenses:
- Political diplomatic dynamics
- Scientific and technical solutions
- Economic impact
- Environmental significance
The longstanding and broad term “disarmament” is defined here as a step-by-step process of limiting, regulating, and/or reducing stockpiles through negotiated agreements. In times of rapid change, cooperative patterns have emerged, have been sustained, and have sustained security arrangements that maximize positive outcomes for all involved, reducing threats via arms control, threats reduction, scientific exchanges, diplomatic activities, and verification mechanisms.
Our People
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Non-Resident Senior Fellow
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Senior Research Fellow
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Partnerships
The Cooperative Nuclear Disarmament and Sustainability Initiative - CNDSI is a collaboration of the Columbia University’s Advanced Consortium on Cooperation Conflict and Complexity (AC4) and the Sant’Egidio Foundation for Peace and Dialogue - SFPD.
To support its Megatons into Megawatts Evaluation project, CNDSI formed an Informal Exploratory Working Group - IEWG in conversation with Civilta dell’Amore, Nuclear for Peace - Assisi Gathering, Catholic Peacebuilding Network - CPN, and others. Members of the IEWG are Azin Aliabadi, Andrea Bartoli, Elizabeth Boyle, Joshua Fisher, Jeffrey Hughes, George Lopez, Enrico Mainardi, Agostino Mathis, Gerard Powers and Christoph Spreng. Informal, preliminary contacts have been established with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).
The participatory evaluation of the Megatons into Megawatts program is scheduled for December 31, 2028, and was launched through a working seminar at Columbia University, June 16th, 2025. For more information:
For more information: [email protected]
※ Parts of the website and materials were prepared with AI assistance (ChatGPT), reviewed by CNDSI staff for accuracy.