Climate Change and SecurityNational and International Responses Achim Maas

EEA Workshop on Global Megatrends and Regional Security Implications of Climate Change, Copenhagen, 7-8 December 2010

Entering the Security Agenda

„[…] the danger posed by war to all of humanity – and to our planet – is at least matched by the climate crisis and global warming.“

Ban Ki-Moon, 2007

„In short, a failing climate means more failed states.“

Margaret Beckett, 2006

“I believe […] that the security implications of climate change need to be better integrated into national security and defence strategies.“

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, 2009

Structure of Presentation

1. Selected National Perceptions and Activities

2. Activities on the UN level

3. Activities on the EU level

National Perceptions and Activities

Activities and threat perceptions on national level are highly diverse.

• Island states: Climate change perceived as an existential threat.

• EU member states among the most active regarding climate change & security. UK: Lists climate change alongside terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in its national security strategy.

• USA: Climate change features in official documents, particular of the intelligence/defence community.

• Russia: Submitted climate change to the national security council in March 2010 and recognised threats to island states, but questions the links as well.

• China and India: Reject the linking of climate change and security in UN security council debate.

National Perceptions and Activities

Most responses on the level of threat assessment and dialogue and concentrated in Europe/North America

• Outside of Europe/North America, debate is mostly driven by science and civil society organisations – such as FFLA, CSCAP and CNTS – except for small island states.

• Most EU and several non-EU European/Central Asian countries associate with general EU position, yet do not actively contribute.

• Conceptual linkages between adaptation and peacebuilding researched, mostly by development agencies, with pilot projects starting to commence.

• Further in-depth research done by defence-related think tanks and research organisations, often focusing on threat scenarios.

• Linkages between defence and development communities are of varying intensity.

UN Level

United Nations – Political Level

UN Security Council: Over

50 statements in April 2007

debate, but no conclusions.

UN General Assembly:

Resolution in 2009, Secretary-

General Report – follow-up in

2011?

UN Level

United Nations – Technical Level

UNDP, UNEP: Guidance notes,

pilot projects, trainings.

FAO, IOM, UNIDO and others:

Conducting further research,

organising workshops and

consultations

EU Activities

The EU – Championing Climate Security

German Presidency 2007:

Commences work on

identifying security threats of

climate change

Solana Paper 2008:

Climate change identified

as threat for international

security

EU Activities

The EU Process on Climate Change and International Security

EU Process on CCIS:

• Informal mechanism for

coordinating between EU MS

• Consultations, dialogue with

third states, int‘l organisations

• Capacity building, improving

analytical tools

• Development of regional

studies

• 2010: A „quiet year“

Thank you very much!

You can find more information on

www.adelphi.de

and

www.ecc-platform.org