Ahead of the New York Climate Week 2019, PSI lists relevant events connected to climate security. Click on the title of the events to go directly on the page of the event. If you are aware of other events, please feel free to contact us so we can add them: psi@clingendael.org or via Twitter @PlanSecu.
Addressing climate-related security risks through concrete action – voices from the field (Sat, Sept 21, 2019, 4-5.30pm)
'The Social and Political Drivers coalition led by the governments of Peru and Spain, together with the Group of Friends on Climate and Security, invites participants to discuss the impact of climate change initiatives and strategies to effectively reduce the vulnerability of people and societies and to reduce the instances and intensity of climate-related conflict within and between countries.
The pre-summit event will showcase an exemplary number of initiatives from around the world with a view to exchanging lessons learned and increasing the ambition and scale of the international community’s responses to the linkages between climate change, prevention and sustaining peace.
The event will focus on the following areas of action: 1) mediation initiatives to address immediate inter-societal conflict; 2) projects aimed at supporting alternative livelihoods in situations where effects of climate change have diminished traditional sources of income; and 3) initiatives on strengthening social cohesion to improve communities’ resilience and coping capacity.'
Building a Resilient Future (Sun, September 22, 2019, 8am-6pm)
Convened by Global Resilience Partnership, hosted by the New School and sponsored by the UK Department for International Development.
‘We are in living in a period of increased volatility and unpredictability. Climate change is affecting food security and political stability. Extreme weather events are occurring more frequently, exacerbating resource scarcity, forced migration, and conflicts. If the current approach to development is not re-shaped, global aspirations toward a resilient future will not be achieved, leaving behind the most vulnerable and marginalised communities. Alongside action to limit emissions and transform towards low carbon development pathways, urgent action to build resilience is vital for achieving nearly all of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Dedicated to reinforcing the focus on resilience and the commitments expected to be made at the UN Climate Action Summit, this event will feature innovative, interactive and participatory sessions for participants to share their actions and commitments for a transformative and resilient future. Participants will learn from each other’s experiences and discover how to embed resilience into actions and achieve the SDGs.’
This event is free but requires registration.
Water: the Ultimate Climate Risk (Tue, September 24, 2019, 4.30-8pm)
By Reuters Breakingviews.
‘We will investigate the risks and opportunities rising global temperatures will have on our H2O supplies. As much as 80 percent of the impact of climate change will be felt via water, whether from floods, water scarcity or changes in rain- and snowfall. It will upend industries from tech to energy production to agriculture and present new challenges to businesses and investors alike. Meeting the UN sustainable investment goal for water alone will require as much as $23 trillion of investment by 2050. Despite its importance in the battle against climate change, though, water is too often ignored or sidelined by corporations, bondholders and shareholders.
This Reuters Breakingviews event seeks to bridge the gap. We will have a keynote speaker, followed by a moderated panel discussion to include everyone from company executives and board members, to investors, bankers, academics and government/non-governmental organizations.
Reuters Breakingviews is the financial-commentary unit of global news organization Reuters.
This event is free, email antony.currie@thomsonreuters.com to get a RSVP.
Climate Change, Water Security, and National Security for Jordan, Palestine and Israel (Tue, September 24, 2019, 7-8.30pm)
By The Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Columbia Law School.
‘The Middle East region is considered a climate hotspot due to its natural water scarcity, social tensions and political conflicts. Over the course of the century, Jordan, Palestine, and Israel are projected to experience an average temperature rise of up to 4°C; a general decrease in precipitation of 25 percent regionally and up to 40 percent locally; a shift in rain seasons from winter and spring to autumn; a higher frequency and intensity of extreme weather events such as droughts, flash floods, and forest fires; as well as a growing rate of desertification.
Despite the effects of climate change being already observable in the region, little has been done to develop a regional, integrated roadmap for climate-related national security in the region. EcoPeace Middle East, a nonprofit organization with offices in Amman, Ramallah and Tel Aviv, has held roundtables in each of the three cities, to address these issues, resulting in this report.
This forum will discuss the scientific findings and policy recommendations to address this looming ecological crisis and its national security implications.’
This event is free but requires registration.
The race to zero emissions: How countries can improve their climate pledges and close the gap to 1.5°C (Wed, September 25, 2019, 9-11am)
By Climate Analytics.
In an effort to drive governments to commit to faster and deeper emission reductions, the UN Secretary General invited leaders to announce stronger commitments at the Climate Action Summit under the theme ‘A Race We Can Win. A Race We Must Win.’ This event during Climate Week NYC, will show a number of scenarios for improving the current round of climate pledges (NDCs), and how these improvements could lower the projected global temperature rise.
Moderation: Richard Black, Director, Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit.
Get more information about the event and the programme here.
This event is free but requires registration.
From the smallest islands to the highest peaks – oceans, ice and climate change (Thu, September 26, 2019, 9-11am)
By Climate Analytics.
‘A major assessment of the latest science on how climate change impacts oceans and the cryosphere – portions of Earth’s surface where water is frozen, including sea ice, snow cover and glaciers – is due on 25 September 2019. This latest special report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is of great importance to some of the world’s most vulnerable countries – like small island states and the least developed countries.
Moderation: Kristian Teleki, Director, Sustainable Oceans Initiative, WRI.’
Get more information about the event and the programme here.
This event is free but requires registration.