It is widely recognized that climate change can have severe and far-reaching consequences for global peace and security and that this interlinkage needs to be addressed in an effective and urgent manner. An EU-led side event at the COP26 and a video message by the HR/VP Borrell will explore the full scope of this broad challenge.
The urgency of the climate crisis is becoming more and more evident. This year the world has experienced new temperature records, devastating wildfires, floods and other extreme weather events which are becoming both more frequent and more destructive around the globe.
Such events, coupled with environmental degradation, over-exploitation of essential natural resources and biodiversity loss, are devastating phenomena as such, but they can also exert significant pressure on international peace and security. The severe consequences on the livelihoods of millions of people multiply the risk of insecurity, in particular in already fragile and vulnerable contexts. As such, the convergence of climate change with other social, political and economic factors of destabilisation can fuel the risk of community-based violence, and population displacement.
EU side event on climate change and conflict
The 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 26, provides for an opportunity to further the discussion on the interactions between climate change and security. Within this context, the EEAS and FPI, together with the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research are organizing a side event in the EU pavilion, to explore the full scope of this broad challenge.
The virtual event Climate change and conflict: prevention, foresight, resilience and adaptation of populations at risk takes place on 2 November at 11am Brussels time (10am Glasgow time). This panel discussion brings together representatives from the EU, ICRC and PIK to discuss how to reconcile prevention, foresight and mitigation with effective engagement to address the existing humanitarian consequences of climate change. To attend the virtual event, participants must register on a dedicated platform(link is external).
A video message on the urgency of addressing the interplay between climate change and security from the HR/VP Josep Borrell will be displayed at the occasion of a side event Climate, Peace and Stability: Weathering Risk Through COP and Beyond(link is external) in the German Pavilion. By exploring how to engage on the climate and security nexus, the EU side event will prepare the ground for this panel between high-level officials from around the world organized on 2 November at 15.30 Brussels time.
The EU is committed to advance in its efforts on climate change and security
The EU has set forth its commitments on climate action in the most concrete of terms with the Green Deal at the heart of this work.
In EU external action around the world, the focus on climate change is likewise unparalleled and unprecedented. Efforts to understand and address the convergence between climate change, environmental degradation and security have redoubled in recent years and been underpinned by firm commitments at all levels of foreign and security policy by the EU.
EU action on climate and security has been strengthened and consolidated with the endorsement of the Concept for an Integrated Approach on Climate Change and Security from September 2021, establishing a framework to address the climate and security nexus in EU engagement. Moreover, the EU Climate Change and Defence Roadmap from November 2020, focuses on the impact of climate change on the EU crisis management and defence.
In addition to significant ongoing support on this issue in fragile regions, countering the effects of climate change is at the core of the new EU funding instrument Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument. 30% of NDICI-Global Europe’s overall budget of almost EUR 80 billion is committed to climate objectives, including by fostering global and regional efforts to prevent, address and mitigate the destabilizing effects of climate change on peace and security around the world.