Dabelko was a lead author on the 5th Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Working Group II Chapter 12 on "Human Security."
Not satisfied with existing approaches that conceived of the environment primarily as a source of conflict and violence, Dabelko and Conca outlined how cooperating on joint environmental issues can contribute to improved relations between nations.
Drawing on several case studies, they analysed how international environmental cooperation can change the strategic climate between states (more trust, higher levels of interdependence) and even contribute to post-Westphalian governance (broader forms of transnational integration).
Erik Solheim, Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme remarked, “No two individuals have shaped our institutional thinking on environmental peacebuilding more than Geoff Dabelko and Ken Conca.
[13] Furthermore, he has coined the concept of "backdraft" to raise attention to the adverse and potentially conflict-enhancing effects of climate change mitigation and adaptation.