The following text is a summary of a new publication by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI). Read the full paper here.
Climate change is having alarming effects on societies and ecosystems. There is also growing evidence of its impacts on peace and conflict, which is reflected in discussions in the United Nations Security Council. The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) have analysed the links between climate, peace and security in countries and regions on the agenda of the UN Security Council in a series of Climate, Peace and Security Fact Sheets. This paper synthesizes four key findings from the fact sheet series: (a) the centrality of livelihood to climate-related security risks; (b) the way in which climate change in one location can lead to insecurity risks in another; (c) how climate change interacts with new and existing conflict risks; and (d) conflict as a societal response to climate change. The paper concludes with recommendations for how the UN Security Council shapes policies for addressing the complex challenges arising from climate change.
Recommended actions:
- Replicate the specialized advisor role in more countries To support information-sharing, mainstreaming and coordination across the United Nations system, the UN Security Council should replicate and adequately resource positions for specialized advisors on climate, environment and security in UN missions that are vulnerable to climate change.
- Develop regional climate security hubs The UN Security Council should enable better informationsharing on climate-related security risks, and coordination of policies and programmes in transboundary areas, through the development of regional climate security hubs.
- Ensure policies are coherent To ensure longer-term sustainability, UN special political missions can play a key role in connecting UN policy and programming to national political processes. National adaptation plans should be used to advance national-level analyses and responses to climate change, peace and security.
- Support just climate action UN responses to climate-related security risks should be designed to support just climate change and conflict transitions, in connection with the development of national policies for equitable and climate-resilient management of the environment, agriculture, land and water.