Baku, Azerbaijan – 15 November 2024

Today, at COP29, the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM) at the United Nations and the Group of Friends on Climate and Security convened an official UNFCCC COP29 side event titled “Peace and Security in a Changing Climate: From Analysis to Action”. Held on COP29 Peace, Relief and Recovery Day, the high-level panel highlighted the linkages between climate change, peace and security, and brought together key voices to explore practical solutions for advancing peace-positive climate action. The event culminated in a pledges and commitments session, where participants announced new pledges of support and partnerships. These included:

- New memberships in the Group of Friends on Climate and Security: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the Republic of Cabo Verde, the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Moldova, the Republic of North Macedonia, the Federal Republic of Somalia, and the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste pledged to join the Group of Friends, established in 2018 by Nauru and Germany. These new members bring the Group’s total to 78 Member States from all regions worldwide.

- New partners and pledges of financial support to the Climate Security Mechanism: Denmark and Slovenia pledged to support the CSM as new donor partners – respectively contributing DKK 5 million and EUR 50,000 - committing to collaborate with the CSM on future initiatives. Slovenia pledged to continue financial support in 2025. Germany and Austria announced new commitments – respectively EUR 1 million and EUR 120,000 – to further support the mission of the CSM. Norway said it would continue its multi-year financial support in 2025 with a commitment of NOK 6 million and encouraged other donors to also invest in multi-year commitments. Denmark and Germany committed to continuing their support of Junior Professional Officers. These vital contributions will enable the CSM to advance its work, including context-specific initiatives that address the linkages between climate change, peace and security and catalyze action, and the deployment and backstopping of Climate, Peace and Security Advisors to UN peace operations and regional organizations.

- Green Climate Fund: The Green Climate Fund recognised the valuable role of the United Nations Climate, Peace and Security advisor network, and particularly the support of the Somalia advisor, which contributed to the first-ever visit of GCF to Somalia in March 2024, and the subsequent investment allocation of USD 100 million for climate initiatives this year.

- Peacebuilding financing: The Secretary-General’s Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) would continue to respond to demand from Member States who seek to peacefully resolve and build resilience to conflict drivers that are exacerbated by climate change. In 2024 alone, the PBF expects to approve over USD 36 million for related programmes in 13 countries. The PBF will build on lessons identified in its 2023 Thematic Review on Climate Security and Peacebuilding, facilitate coherent approaches of the United Nations system with a strong emphasis on gender and youth-inclusive approaches, and seek to increase synergies with partners such as international financial institutions and climate funds to increase catalytic effects.

- Pacific Islands Forum: Nauru announced the imminent deployment of a new Climate, Peace and Security Advisor to the Pacific Islands Forum by the Climate Security Mechanism. The advisor will play an essential role in advancing the Pacific's climate security initiatives, aligning with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and the Boe Declaration, including its Action Plan.

- Partnerships: The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reaffirmed its commitment to mainstreaming climate considerations across its organization and pledged to strengthen collaboration with the Climate Security Mechanism and other partners to support joint efforts in addressing climate-related risks to global peace and stability.

- Women, Peace and Security: The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund pledged to further invest in the active participation and leadership of women and girls on peace-positive climate action through its Funding Initiative on Women and Climate Security. With an initial USD 5 million already committed, the Fund will accelerate its resource mobilization efforts to reach its USD 20 million goal. These new investments will extend the geographic reach and scope of this critical initiative to women most affected by the impacts of climate change. The Fund will also explore synergies with the Climate Security Mechanism, particularly through its network of Climate, Peace and Security Advisors.

- Network of climate-vulnerable countries affected by conflicts: Chad, as a member of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security, and representing the newly-established Network to strengthen peace and resilience in climate-vulnerable settings, looked forward to strong partnership with the CSM and the United Nations Regional Office for Central Africa (UNOCA) to advance the Climate, Peace and Security agenda with Member States.

The event brought together distinguished panellists from government, the United Nations, and civil society. Discussions focused on how the climate emergency acts as a risk multiplier, with displacement and migration, food insecurity, water scarcity, and livelihood loss among the primary channels through which climate change undermines peace and stability. Those that have contributed the least to climate change face the greatest risk of being overwhelmed by its impacts. Where climate change intersects with fragility and conflict, its effects are especially severe. Many of the countries most vulnerable to climate risks host a United Nations peacekeeping or special political mission, underscoring the need for integrated approaches to climate resilience and peacebuilding.

Quotes from Speakers:

Ms. Shaima Gargash, Director of Energy and Sustainability Affairs, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the United Arab Emirates’ strong support: “As the UAE, we are particularly pleased to be a donor partner to the Climate Security Mechanism. The CSM has been an effective bridge between last year’s landmark COP28 Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace and the sustained focus on communities facing fragility, conflict, and humanitarian situations at COP29. The CSM’s analysis and advisory services help to increase climate action and finance in these highly vulnerable settings – one of the best investments we can make for peace and development. This event has embodied the Declaration’s vision, demonstrating how global partnerships can drive resilience and peace through effective climate action”.

“A very important action implemented through CSM is the deployment of climate, peace, security (CPS) advisors. Switzerland supports a new CPS Advisor at the UN Office to the African Union”, said Ambassador of Switzerland to Azerbaijan, Thomas Stähli, in his welcoming remarks.

“Addressing climate and security necessitates collective action and the inclusive leadership of Pacific nations” said Mr. Reagan Moses, Secretary for the Department of Climate Change and National Resilience of Nauru. “Partnerships, such as those promoted by the Climate Security Mechanism, are essential for achieving our shared objectives”.

“We cherish that CSM provides its expertise and collaborates with many different stakeholders. Such as the Women Peace Humanitarian Fund that fosters grassroot women-led projects to build climate resilience and sustain peace”, said Mr. Oliver Rentschler, Director-General for Climate Diplomacy and Geoeconomics, German Federal Foreign Office.

In the Liptako Gourma region of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, the Climate, Peace and Security Advisor supports regional and national strategies and action plans. H.E. Ms. Hawa Aw, Executive Secretary of the Liptako Gourma Authority, highlighted: “In a historic move, the landmark Bamako Declaration emphasises the integration of climate policy and security, which should be catalysed into impactful actions for a more resilient Sahel. In countries within our region with challenges to institutional capacities, the threat of climate change is deeply felt. Climate, peace and security initiatives should integrate a socioeconomic dimension to bring appropriate response to the people. We cannot face this alone, and we welcome the support to regional entities and all partners through the CSM to strengthen ongoing national efforts”.

In regions like Afghanistan, the CSM has brought together local authorities, civil society, and vulnerable communities to discuss solutions for climate challenges. Ms. Marwa Alam Safa, Founder and CEO of the Climate and Environment Youth Initiative, praised these efforts, stating: “The CPS Advisor has given a platform to Afghan voices in peace and climate discussions. The advisor-supported dialogues on climate change brought together diverse actors, ensuring their unique perspectives and knowledge were heard. Such initiatives are essential for inclusive and effective peace-positive climate solutions”.

H.E. Mr. Bartel Africano, Undersecretary of Environment, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of South Sudan, stated: “The relentless impacts of climate change pose key obstacles to South Sudan’s efforts to build resilience, peace and development. The Climate, Peace and Security Advisor provides crucial support to the government of South Sudan in addressing and mitigating the impacts of climate change on peace. There are early indications that the government’s flooding preparedness task force is reducing the number of people initially estimated to be impacted by the current flooding crisis”.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) highlighted its commitment to climate adaptation and resilience efforts in conflict-affected settings. Ms. Stephanie Speck, Head of Special Initiatives at the GCF’s Office of Strategy and Impact, remarked, “It is often said that investing in climate adaptation and resilience in conflict-affected settings is too risky. But I would argue that, given current climate projections, the far greater risk lies in not investing”.

The Climate Security Mechanism (CSM) is a joint initiative by the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO). Responding to growing calls for action by affected communities, Member States, regional organizations, experts and policymakers around the world, the CSM seeks to strengthen the capacity of the United Nations and its partners to systematically analyze and address the linkages between climate change, peace and security. Established in late 2018, the CSM draws on the complementary resources of DPPA, UNDP, UNEP, and DPO. The CSM works with partners to advance peace-positive climate action, catalyze climate-informed approaches to peace and security, and forge partnerships at all levels to exchange information and build the evidence base. To that end, the CSM provides technical advice and tailored support to UN field missions, country teams, regional organizations and other partners to bolster the analysis, reduction and management of climate-related peace and security risks. Beyond its field work, the CSM seeks to build an enabling environment and catalyze action by partners at all levels by investing in knowledge management and capacity building and by leveraging the convening power of its member entities.

The Group of Friends on Climate and Security is a coalition of United Nations Member States concerned with the adverse effects of climate change on peace and security. In this regard, the group’s objectives are, inter alia, to raise public awareness, to inform policy, and to strengthen the UN system’s ability and efforts to respond to the security challenges posed by the effects of climate change. The Group of Friends regularly addresses the UN Security Council through joint statements. Where relevant, the group addresses other UN fora as well, such as the General Assembly or the Peacebuilding Commission, among others. The Group of Friends was established in 2018 by Nauru and Germany and has grown to over 70 Member States from all regions of the world. Membership is open to all UN delegations who share the group’s objectives. The group meets twice a year at Ambassadorial level. Working level meetings are called on an ad hoc basis, and typically feature internal or external briefings or discussions on specific thematic issues of relevance to the UN. In its observer status capacity, the Climate Security Mechanism regularly briefs the Group of Friends on the progress of its work.