Safety relevance of climate change: international dialogue on 20 May 2011 at the German House, New York

Increasing food shortages, water scarcity and the consequences of climate change-induced migration – these are some of the security implications of climate change. The international dialogue that took place on 20 May, jointly organised by adelphi research and the Permanent Missions of Germany and Portugal at the United Nations in New York, highlighted the relevance of these developments for peace and security.

Around one hundred representatives from the political and academic arenas discussed possible ways in which the United Nations Security Council, which is scheduled to be under German presidency in July, could address climate change.

Experts found that climate changes are already taking place, and that risks are particularly significant for coastal regions and island nations. The rise in sea level for instance is a major risk to infrastructure and cities, leading also to salinisation of soils and groundwater. Some participants in fact stated that the resulting resource scarcity would inevitably lead to conflicts. Fragile states are often affected, thus policies for conflict prevention are urgently needed.

Furthermore, the destabilising effects of food shortages already represent a threat to peace and stability in various regions of the world. Trends such as increasing urbanisation, growing populations above all in Africa and Asia, and unabated climate change may exacerbate already occurring crises.

In the possible work of the Security Council on climate change, the focus therefore should be placed on the impacts of climate change on peace and security. Given the limited progress in international climate policy, additional efforts are needed to advance approaches to crisis and conflict prevention policy and to systematically anchor these issues in political institutions and processes.