Pacific Island Countries (PICs) face some of the world’s most profound climate-related security risks. Rather than a single conflict episode, the Pacific region experiences cascading and interconnected pathways through which climate impacts undermine human security, stress livelihoods and economies, strain governance systems, exacerbate social tensions, and threaten territorial integrity. Climate change is already altering land usability, water and food security, mobility dynamics, disaster burdens, and geopolitical stability, with rising sea levels posing existential challenges to several states. These pressures do not currently manifest as high-intensity violent conflict across the region. However, they are generating fragility, localised tensions, and risks of instability, particularly where land scarcity, economic shocks, or disaster impacts intersect with inequality, urbanisation, and weakening traditional norms.

The seventh Berlin Climate and Security Conference (BCSC) 2025 explored how to navigate climate, conflict, and cooperation in a turbulent era, highlighting the urgency of integrating climate security into responses to today’s geopolitical, humanitarian and development challenges.

From rising sea levels to intensifying competition over natural resources, climate change is posing critical threats to peace, stability and development across the Asia-Pacific region. Despite increasing climate-related security risks, international discussions have often overlooked the region’s experiences and expertise. This report seeks to address that gap.

BCSC’s 2024 edition explored how to secure a climate for peace and examined why climate must be integrated into the entire conflict cycle. This video features insights from interviews with adelphi global experts Janani Vivekananda (Head of Programme) and Benjamin Pohl (Head of Programme).

70 percent of climate vulnerable countries are the most fragile. This should mean that these countries are prioritised by climate finance. Yet, the reality is the opposite. Access to climate finance for fragile and conflict countries is often hindered by structural, technical and institutional barriers. Overcoming these challenges is vital for sustainable peace.

Land and natural resources can be connected with conflict dynamics, from local disputes to international tensions. Restoring ecosystems can bring communities together, build trust, and foster cooperation, laying the groundwork for peace.

The sixth Berlin Climate and Security Conference (BCSC) 2024 explored how to secure a climate for peace and highlighted the importance of integrating climate into the entire conflict cycle from prevention, to peacemaking, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction.

This report identifies five pathways through which climate change exacerbates security risks. These pathways will continue to shape the complex interplay between environmental degradation, climate change, and security in the years ahead, necessitating effective action from the EU.