Briefer published by the Council on Strategic Risks, 13 August, 2026

Edited by Shirley V. Scott and Charlotte Ku, this forward-looking book examines the scope and options for the United Nations Security Council to respond to climate insecurity. A cross-disciplinary team of experts addresses the range of political and legal considerations involved, including, the scope for adapting existing Council tools to address the challenge of climate change, the legality and legitimacy of doing so, the attitude of the P5 and EU, and Council action to date.
Increasing vulnerability of coastal military bases, an opening polar route in the Arctic, and global instability are main threats that bring climate change to the focus of the US Defense Department. Sharon Burke, Senior Advisor to New America and former Assistant Secretary for US Defense, describes how the military balances preparedness for climate impacts with challenges arising from the current US government.
The Planetary Security Initiative, SIPRI and Adelphi have the pleasure to announce a side event during the 2018 Stockholm Forum on Peace and Development, on the 7th of May 2018. This side event will present up-to-date findings from the project, plus a briefing on a joint field mission and an outline of next steps for action on climate-fragility risks in Lake Chad.
On March 31st, 2018, the United Nations Security Council voted unanimously the Resolution 2408,  reaffirming climate change as one of the factors that destabilize the region and induce conflict in Somalia.
On September 18th, 2017, 25 participants joined Climate Change, Migration and Me, a youth-driven initiative, led by the Netherlands National IHP-HWRP Committee, on climate change and migration issues. The prizes were a chance to participate in the UN Climate Conference (COP23) in Bonn or a chance to join the Planetary Security Conference, 2017, in The Hague.
In this interview, Planetary Security Conference speaker Shreya Mitra stresses the necessity of analyzing the underlying causes and climate-sensitive approaches when responding to natural resource conflicts. As conflicts over natural resources play out in Mali, spillover effects can be felt throughout the Sahel region.