As a Mercator fellow, Michelle Benzing explores the connections between gender, peace and security, and the climate crisis. Incorporating intersectional and feminist perspectives, she questions the lack of gender-specific approaches in environmental peacebuilding and the near absence of climate-related security aspects in the Women, Peace and Security agenda. She gained work experience at the Deutsche Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and at the German Embassy in Washington, D.C.. Michelle holds an M.Sc. in International Relations from LSE, specializing in gender and human rights, climate justice, post-conflict states and sustainable peace.