Statement at the Arria-formula meeting on Climate, Peace and Security

Statement

Thank you, Chair and my thanks also to our briefers for their very insightful reflections.

Ireland is very happy to co-sponsor today’s meeting. It is vital that the Security Council broadens its awareness of how climate, security and peacebuilding interact in order to deliver on its mandate.

Climate change is a risk multiplier that exacerbates conflict and insecurity. Complex challenges require complex solutions, and it is essential for us to understand the variety of impacts climate change is having globally.

We welcome that the Security Council has recognised the adverse effects of climate change on conflict dynamics across a growing number of mandates for peacekeeping and special political missions. But this Council can, and must, do more to better understand and address climate-related security risks in the maintenance of international peace and security.

We commend the Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security, which has been crucial in informing the Council’s work.

Ireland is supporting the Climate Security Mechanism and its essential efforts to integrate climate and security analysis and action into the work of the UN system. This has included through the provision of funding for the appointment of a climate and security advisor in UNMISS this year.

Member States must redouble their ambitions and efforts to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, and to deliver on their Paris Agreement commitments. The recent progress made on Loss and Damage at COP27, in which Ireland was deeply engaged, is welcome but we must ensure the commitments made are delivered on. 

Climate change as we know has huge socioeconomic impacts, and exacerbates existing vulnerabilities.  We can respond in ways that increase cooperation and cohesion. 

As noted by the recent IPCC report, environmental peacebuilding – through natural resource sharing, conflict-sensitive adaptation and climate-resilient peacebuilding – can provide opportunities for addressing conflict risk.

Cooperation on environmental and natural resource management can generate peace dividends by strengthening social cohesion and resilience, and we want to commend the DPPA in this regard, including for its work on “climate-informed” mediation and peace-making.

Conflict-sensitive climate adaptation and mitigation efforts can also generate peace dividends, just as climate-sensitive peacebuilding can contribute to the sustainability of climate adaptation and mitigation efforts in conflict-affected regions.

Gender-responsive climate action will also ensure inclusive and sustainable solutions. Addressing shared challenges can highlight commonalities and support cross-community cooperation.

Partnership, participation and inclusion are essential for finding sustainable solutions. Climate, Peace, and Security efforts which include these can strengthen governance, address inequality and empower marginalised persons and communities.

In closing, Chair, I would like to pose a few questions.

Firstly, how can the work of the IEG and the Climate Security Mechanism be better and more systematically integrated into the Council’s considerations and actions?

Secondly, how is climate change being included as a key consideration in the prevention of conflict, and in transitions out of conflict, including through UN peacekeeping and political mission transitions?

And finally, how would the appointment of a Climate, Peace and Security Envoy enhance the UN’s work on this important topic? What could the UN peace and security architecture achieve through this?

Thank you Chair

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