The GLF: Prospects and Opportunities for Restoration in Africa, will be held in Nairobi this year on August 29th and 30th. The event in Kenya focuses on coordination amongst regional actors with the aid of international actors, in support of the restoration of land and forests with an emphasis on the implementation.

This months issue of the European Security and Defence Union journal takes a pervasive look at climate-related topics.

“Climate change is inextricably linked to some of the most pressing security challenges of our time,” said Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, echoing many permanent and temporary members of the United Nations Security Council. This debate, brought forward under the Swedish Presidency of the Council, aimed at bringing forth the nexus between climate change and security, not only in a context-specific manner like previously acknowledged but for the globe as a whole.

On the 17th of July, the UNCCD will host a Ministerial Side Event as part of the High Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. The event will focus on the initiative on Sustainability, Stability and Security (3S) in Africa.

On the 11th of July, the climate-security link will be discussed in a full UNSC session for the first time since 2011. This sessions will be held under the Swedish Presidency to debate on the security risks relating to climate security. The debate is expected to be open and will, therefore, be broadcasted live at UN Web TV.  A key question now is whether progress will be made on the establishment of a so-called institutional home for climate-security at the UN in one form or another.

With the liberation of Mosul from so-called Islamic State (IS) in November 2017, Iraq entered – once again – a post-conflict period. While starting the process of rebuilding the country, Iraq is facing a severe water crisis characterised by acute scarcity, dwindling resources and sharply declining water quality.

On the 28th of June, The UNSC adopted Resolution 2423 which further extended their Malian mission. It is the first time a UN Mission is asked to include the impacts of climate change on the security situation of the country they operate in explicitly in their activities.

Test of Endurance, a new report by the Planetary Security Initiative, warns of increased stress on land systems, just as the African population is set to double by midcentury. It observes that nearly half of the land in sub-Saharan African is steadily degrading, with severe economic impacts. This cost Africa a whopping $10 trillion in economic activity.