The world is experiencing a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. Scientific assessments from, among others, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), point to these continued trends jeopardising social and economic development. The IPCC has already warned that the impacts of climate change will worsen conflict in the future. 

The global community has increasingly come to appreciate the links between the environmental degradation and security risks, reflected in issues such as climate change and environmental crimes being linked to stability and security at regional and global levels. Member States have been able to introduce the subject of climate change in key security discourses including at the UN Security Council, the world’s highest deliberative body on global security. The focus of these discussions has been largely on climate change, with nature, biodiversity and ecosystem loss being overlooked. However, in places where the link
between climate change and conflict is closely connected to access to natural resources, declining biodiversity and ecosystem services may exacerbate existing resource conflicts. Nature loss is a multiplier of conflict and source of instability.

Conversely, healthy nature and ecosystems can build resilience and investing in conservation and nature-based solutions is an entry point for stability and peace. Against the backdrop of active conflicts, heightened geopolitical tensions, and increases in global military spending, the world is at a key moment to integrate nature in its understanding and programming around security. 

Based on a new analysis of the current status of policy, programming and financing on the linkages between nature, peace and security by WWF and adelphi global, WWF and partners will convene a high-level discussion on environment, peace and security, on the sidelines of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly. The format will be a moderated discussion with interactive audience Q&A and will be held under Chatham House Rule.

Preliminary Agenda

• 8:00 - 8:15: Opening remarks (TBC)
• 8:15 - 8:20 The nature-climate-security nexus: scene-setting (adelphi global)
• 8:20 - 8:35 Three firestarters share their perspectives:
  • Alexandra Fong, Chief, Policy and Guidance, United Nations Department of
    Political and Peacebuilding Affairs
  • Turhan Saleh, Deputy Director, Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery,
    United Nations Development Programme
  • Matti Lehtonen, Senior Advisor, United Nations Environment Programme
• 8:35 - 9:30 Audience Q&A
• 9:30 - 9:40 Concluding remarks
• 9:40 - 10:00 Informal coffee networking