Climate change is not only a key challenge for global development and human wellbeing; it is also one of the foremost issues pertaining to peace and security. Yet back in 2007, only some of the participants in the United Nations (UN) Security Council recognised this perspective. Times are changing, though, and it may be time for the council to have a second date with this particular issue. In recent years, a series of droughts and floods in several countries have led to humanitarian emergencies and contributed to the global increase of food prices. In the Pacific, relocation of small and low-lying island populations is being considered, or is already underway in some areas. At the political level, the UN General Assembly in 2009 called upon all UN organisations to consider the security implications of climate change within their respective mandates.



A number of countries, such as Germany, have supported this call. As a result, another open debate on the security implications of climate change is envisaged for July 2011 under the German Council presidency. An event at the German House on 20 May offered some insights about the current political momentum of the topic. Participants agreed that careful consideration of climate change implications by relevant UN bodies is needed to strengthen conflict prevention. This also includes the Security Council. The Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands, H.E. Hon. John Silk, pointed out that efforts to curb climate change have been too weak and, as a result, the international community needs to address unavoidable future repercussions of climate change impacts in the security sphere.



Several ideas were proposed for ways in which the Security Council can address climate change. Most of these ideas, however, are focused directly on the greater UN family – e.g. through the appointment of a special representative of the Secretary-General or an evaluation of the UN’s capacities to address the security implications of climate change. As a specific challenge, participants highlighted the need to provide new analysis and guidance with regard to the peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities administered by the UN Security Council as well as other bodies to avoid a relapse of states into violent conflict. Hence, there is enough to talk about when it comes to a second date on 20 July. (Dennis Taenzler)



For a report on the German House Conference in New York on 20 May, please see http://krium.de/images/AA-CCIS/ny_documentation_final.pdf



For further information on the international dialogues concerning climate change and security, please see here.

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, 3/2011