Given the magnitude of the climate emergency recognized by the Secretary-General, its cascading effects extend beyond the environmental sphere and into the social, political, and security realm.
The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, has emphasized that “We need to ensure that UN peacekeeping operations have the required capabilities and operational resilience to operate safely and effectively in the face of flooding, desertification and other patterns exacerbated by climate change. We have much to learn together about how we can improve our preparedness, analysis, and action to both prevent and respond to climate-related risks to peace and security.”
While climate change is rarely – if ever – the primary cause of conflict, it can act as a multiplier, exacerbating underlying vulnerabilities and compounding existing grievances in fragile countries. It can have devastating effects on human security in some of the most climate vulnerable countries, where peace operations may be present.
Peace Operations and Climate
Climate and ecological changes, and natural disasters, can increase instability in conflict regions, triggering herder-farmer conflicts, disputes over land and water, and competition over critical natural resources and minerals.
The UN Security Council refers to climate in four resolutions mandating UN Peace Operations (MONUSCO, MINUSCA, UNMISS, and UNFICYP).
The multidimensional missions are mandated to conduct comprehensive risk assessments and risk management strategies of climate change, among other factors, on the security and stability of the host countries.
The resolutions also highlight considerations of the environmental impacts of peace operations when fulfilling their mandated tasks, including, for example, good stewardship of resources and a positive legacy of the mission, and expanded renewable energy use to enhance safety and security, save costs, offer efficiencies and benefit the mission.
In the case of UNFICYP, the Security Council recognised that regular, effective contact and communication between the Sides help to address issues related to the adverse impacts of climate change.
Climate Security Mechanism
In December 2021, the United Nations Department of Peace Operations (DPO) joined the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), which was established in 2018 by the United Nations Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The CSM aims to help the United Nations more systematically analyze and help Member States address the linkages between climate change, peace, and security. The CSM works directly with United Nations field missions and country teams as well as with regional and sub-regional organizations to build capacity, exchange knowledge, and achieve results for States and communities most affected by climate-related security risks.
Work in Climate, Peace, and Security
Joining the CSM strengthens DPO’s capacity to support missions in some of the most vulnerable regions, particularly peacekeeping contexts where the Security Council has recognized the destabilizing effects of climate change. The deployment of dedicated climate security advisors in select missions helps the leadership and country teams to bridge technical and political dimensions of climate security and translate scientific and security information into actionable policy recommendations to the host country.
The CSM has developed a toolbox to foster a shared approach to the analysis of climate-related security risks and shape integrated and timely responses.
DPO is also working with the United Nations Department of Operational Support on “Greening the Blue Helmets” to create “responsible missions that achieve maximum efficiency in their use of natural resources and operate at minimum risk to people, societies and ecosystems; contributing to a positive impact on these wherever possible.”