adelphi's participation at the sidelines of UNGA 79

Regional leadership on climate, peace and security ahead of COP29: Insights from the AU

Roundtable discussion during the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79)

Date: Sunday, 22nd September 2024
Time: 10:00 – 11:30
Location: Ireland's Permanent Mission to the UN, New York
Format: 90-minute, keynote followed by panel  
Registration: Attendance by invitation only
Organized by: Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations New York, UNDP, Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, adelphi, United Nations University

Description:
The linkages between climate, peace and security are posing serious challenges all over the world, threatening present and future generations. Next to a strong globally coordinated response at multilateral and UN level, regional action is a key to address cross-border climate security risks.

The African Union (AU) has been a leading advocate of action on climate, peace and security globally. Keenly aware of regional risks on the African continent, the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) requested the development of the first comprehensive study of climate security across the continent. The Africa Climate Security Risk Assessment (ACRA) is an African led in-depth analysis of key climate security risk pathways across the continent’s five regions. It explores regional responses to these challenges and emerging good practices. Based on this study, the AU is currently developing a Common African Position on climate change, peace and security (CAP-CPS). This CAP-CPS, due to be presented at COP29, will be the first time for a regional organisation to agree on a joint position to tackle climate security risks.

African leadership on climate, peace and security can serve as example for other regions of the world. It also fits with the principles of the UN’s forthcoming Pact for the Future initiative, in which parties commit to “address the challenges posed to international peace and security by adverse climate and environmental impacts”. Together with UNU, UN DPPA, the Group of Friends on Climate Security, and adelphi, this event aims to highlight the AU’s work and lessons learnt from the process. Ahead of Peace Day at COP29, which will give centre stage to climate, peace and security priorities, this panel discussion shall provide a space for lessons on advancing climate, peace and security action regionally.

Expected outcomes:

• Exchange of knowledge on climate, peace and security in Africa and the AU CAP-CPS progress and how this can feed into global processes such as COP Climate and Peace days
• Increasing understanding of how regional initiatives can and are incorporating climate, peace and security into their agendas, following the example of the African Union
• Sharing lessons on how national, regional, and UN partners can collaborate on advancing knowledge and enabling action on climate security in different regions of the world

Speakers and moderator:

• Amb. Nuala Ní Mhuircheartaigh, Permanent Mission of Ireland
• Jennifer Morgan, State Secretary and Special Envoy for International Climate Action at the Federal Foreign Office, Germany 
• Bankole Adeoye, African Union Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security
• Elshad Iskandarov, Senior Advisor to the COP29 Presidency
• Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, Special Representative of the Secretary-General to the African Union
• Thomas Gürber, Deputy State Secretary, Switzerland
• USG Tshilidzi Marwala, Director of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

Moderated by: Janani Vivekananda, Head of Programme, adelphi

About UNGA

The UN General Assembly (UNGA) is the main policy-making organ of the Organization. Comprising all Member States, it provides a unique forum for multilateral discussion of the full spectrum of international issues covered by the Charter of the United Nations. Each of the 193 Member States of the United Nations has an equal vote.

The UNGA also makes key decisions for the UN, including:

• appointing the Secretary-General on the recommendation of the Security Council
• electing the non-permanent members of the Security Council
• approving the UN budget

More information

This description was excerpted from unep.org