The sixth Climate and Security Conference at the Federal Foreign Office addresses the intersection of climate change and security policy, highlighting the existential threats posed by resource scarcity. By bringing together global stakeholders, the conference focuses on solutions to support vulnerable countries in achieving climate objectives and ensuring regional stability.
The climate crisis represents an unprecedented challenge for global security policy, threatening the fundamental resources essential for human survival, including water and arable land. This growing scarcity poses an existential danger not only to millions of individuals but to entire nations. The sixth Climate and Security Conference, held at the Federal Foreign Office in Berlin, aims to draw attention to the critical intersection of climate issues with peace and security dynamics. Climate extremes today are increasing human suffering, leading to displacement and escalating conflicts over limited resources. This situation heightens insecurity, jeopardizing regional stability and international peace, thus intertwining climate policy with security policy. Since its inception in 2019, the Berlin Climate and Security Conference has emerged as a pivotal forum for stakeholders from diverse sectors, including climate, peace, and security, to devise tangible solutions to tackle these interrelated challenges. This year’s conference, themed “How to Secure a Climate for Peace,” is expected to attract around 250 participants from across the globe, including representatives from severely impacted regions, the United Nations, academia, civil society, and the media. The conference seeks to contribute valuable insights for the upcoming UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, specifically focusing on how to assist vulnerable and conflict-affected nations in achieving the critical 1.5-degree warming limit target. Key discussions will center on the relationship between the climate crisis and security objectives, exploring contributions from the security and defense sectors. Innovative methodologies for climate risk analysis and early warning systems that promote peace and stabilize regions will also be emphasized. An example of such an initiative is the Climate Conflict Vulnerability Index (CCVI), developed in collaboration with the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research and the Bundeswehr University Munich. This scientifically validated tool integrates publicly accessible data related to climate risks, vulnerabilities, and conflict threats, providing a clear framework for understanding and utilizing this information. The conference will also be streamed live, and additional resources including summaries and video reports are available at the official conference website.
In recent years, the detrimental impacts of climate change have increasingly been recognized not only as environmental issues but also as matters of security. Climate-induced resource scarcity has instigated new forms of competition and conflict, making it imperative for global policy discussions to include these interconnections. Conferences such as the Climate and Security Conference serve to unite experts and officials to navigate these complex dynamics, prioritizing solutions that enhance both climate resilience and security.
The sixth Climate and Security Conference underscores the urgent need to address the multifaceted challenges posed by the climate crisis through a security lens. By fostering dialogue among key stakeholders and sharing innovative tools like the Climate Conflict Vulnerability Index, the conference aims to create actionable strategies that support vulnerable nations in combating the repercussions of climate change while striving for peace and stability.
Original Source: www.auswaertiges-amt.de
