Expert Workshop on Multilateral Partnerships on Climate Security in Cairo

From 14 to 16 November, ZIF organized an international expert workshop in Cairo on "Multilateral Partnerships on Climate, Peace and Security". The partner organizations Cairo International Center for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding (CCCPA), the United Nations Department for Peace Operations (DPO), the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and adelphi were represented on site. The workshop focused on the question of how climate security can be better anchored as a topic and field of action in missions on the African continent. The continent is already severely affected by the security implications of climate change. The workshop was linked to the Aswan Forum and also provided recommendations for the next UN Climate Change Conference (COP28).

Tobias Pietz, climate security expert at ZIF, moderated a panel discussion with climate and environmental advisors from political missions and peace operations of UN and EU missions under the title "Mainstreaming Climate, Peace and Security in Practice". The participants identified good examples and lessons learned for the operationalization of climate, peace and security in the context of missions, for example through targeted in-mission training and the creation of dedicated positions and structures to implement this topic within the missions.

The workshop brought together a wide range of expertise from UN climate, peace and security advisors to political decision-makers from international organizations and representatives of regional organizations. As a conclusion, the participants agreed that improved networking between the various actors, financial security for climate activities, integrated project implementation and additional analyses of climate risks at national and regional level were the most sensible starting points and most promising factors for current and future missions.

Tobias Pietz: "Africa is already suffering greatly from the consequences of climate change, but the workshop in Cairo showed that no other continent currently has so many initiatives, actors and data on climate and environmental security. We need to build on this, also within peacekeeping missions."

The results of the workshop are currently being summarized in a policy briefing for COP28, where the UN is planning a side event on climate security and operations. Another outcome in Cairo was to see the workshop as a starting point for a peer network, which could be established by the partners over the course of the next year. ZIF will continue to support this process.