Peace and Security in a Changing Climate

Between April 2020 and September 2021, UNSSC hosted 10 virtual coffee hours to discuss issues ranging from the risks posed by climate change to peacebuilding and sustaining peace to the role of data for climate security, the gender dimensions of climate-related security risks, migration and displacement in a changing climate, the relevance of climate change for conflict mediation, climate-sensitive programming for sustaining peace, and more.

UNSSC hosted virtual events at the Berlin Climate and Security Conference 2021  and 2022 to foster multi-stakeholder dialogues and sharing of lessons learned on issues related to food insecurity, climate change, and conflict sensitivity, identifying sustainable pathways for peacebuilding and good practices for mitigating climate risks.

This four-week course equipped participants with tools to conduct localized climate risk assessments and integrate them into programmatic planning for sustaining peace, addressing risks posed by climate change to peace and security at the international, national and local level.

The UN Climate and Security Practitioners Dialogue was a dynamic two-day discussion on risk analysis, integrating climate risks into peacebuilding and development programmes, and using data for evidence-based decision-making. Participants shared their experiences and best practices in the fast-growing area of work at the intersection of climate action and peacebuilding.

This training, held for two separate cohorts over four days, was offered to UN practitioners from the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the South Sudan UN Country Team. Participants increased their understanding of climate change impacts and explored methodologies to conduct climate-related security risk assessments and develop integrated strategies addressing climate, peace, and security challenges in South Sudan.

This training brought together practitioners from UN Peacekeeping Operations, Special Political Missions and UN Country Teams in the MENA Region. It offered methodologies for climate-related security risk assessments and the use of data for evidence-based decision-making, sharing experiences and lessons learned from integrating climate risks into peacebuilding and development programming.

This training brought together UN Secretariat staff, technical programme staff from UN Agencies, Funds and Programmes, and Peace and Development Advisers working on the development of climate security project proposals for consideration by the Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) in 2023. Addressing the integration of climate-related security risks in the design and implementation of PBF-funded projects.

This workshop brought together technical staff from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, the Office of Emergencies and Resilience, and the Agrifood Economics Division. It addressed conflict and climate sensitivity within FAO under the overall multi-risk and impact management approach for resilient agrifood systems, addressing practices and tools to integrate climate, peace, and security.

This workshop brought together experts from different geographic and thematic areas within the UN, government and civil society to discuss inclusion in the climate, peace, and security agenda. A practical note on Next steps towards an inclusive Climate, Peace and Security agenda was produced as an outcome of the workshop.

This virtual dialogue series was organized in the lead-up to the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It provided a space for exchange among academics and practitioners on topics relevant to the intersection of climate action and peacebuilding: 1. Leveraging opportunities for peace through climate action; 2. Transitioning to clean and sustainable energies: what opportunities for peace?; and 3. Channeling climate finance to fragile and conflict-affected countries.

This workshop addressed risk analysis and avenues to mainstream climate, peace and security in the work of the Office of the Special Envoy of the Secretary General for Yemen (OSESGY). Guided through the Lego Serious Play methodology, participants explore strategy-building on climate, peace and security.

This training built the capacity of Peacebuilding Fund Secretariats staff, Peace and Development Advisers, and Resident Coordinators Offices’ staff to integrate climate-related security risks into the design and implementation of PBF-funded projects, emphasizing synergies between climate change mitigation, adaptation, and peacebuilding.

Building on the pilot training held for the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in 2023, this training strengthened the capacity of government and civil society to apply climate-related security risk analysis methodologies and leverage entry points for mainstreaming climate, peace, and security considerations into their work. Participants also received training on basic facilitation skills to support the dissemination of knowledge and further capacity building in their respective communities and institutions.

The repository gathers cases from a variety of contexts and environments, drawing from the experience of different organizations including UN entities and non-governmental organizations in mainstreaming climate-sensitive considerations into integrated peacebuilding programmes. The aim is to share lessons learned from practitioners on how to identify, analyse and address climate-related security risks through all stages of the programme cycle, and to provide practical examples on how to mainstream climate sensitive considerations into peacebuilding programmes. The repository will be launched in June 2024.