With the climate crisis posing an existential threat to our future - not only to our environment, but to our common security - we must act
Statement by Ambassador Barbara Woodward at the Security Council Open Debate on terrorism and climate change
Thank you Mr President. And thank you in particular for your clear account of the impact of climate change and terrorism in Niger and I thank the other experts too for their valuable briefings.
It is a cruel reality that many of the nations most affected by the climate change are also among the world’s most fragile.
As the Secretary-General made clear the impacts of climate change act as a multiplier of threats already facing vulnerable populations. Countries enduring conflict are hit especially hard.
With institutions under pressure, communities displaced, societies insecure, these nations are less equipped to cope with the impacts of climate change.
As you highlighted Mr President, in the Sahel, changes in rainfall have fuelled conflict between farmer and herder communities. This can create the conditions for violent extremism.
In Iraq and Syria, farming communities affected by climate- induced crop failures and droughts were thought to have been an important source of recruits for ISIL between 2014 and 2016.
We therefore welcome the UN’s efforts to address both terrorism and climate change.
With the climate crisis posing an existential threat to our future - not only to our environment, but to our common security - we must act.
I want to emphasise three ways we can do this.
First at COP26, we saw that countries can work together to deliver ambitious commitments.
Through the Glasgow Climate Pact, we have kept alive the hope of limiting the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees.
We saw strong commitments made at COP on net zero, ending and reversing deforestation, the doubling of adaptation finance and meeting the $100 billion goal by 2023 at the latest.
This will help countries increase their preparedness to climate risks and protect vulnerable communities from some of the worst impacts of climate change and its effects on stability.
Second, we need the UN system to report comprehensively on the links between climate and security, so we have the best information to inform our decisions.
The Council’s Counter-Terrorism Executive Directorate has a clear role here and should continue to examine the conditions and environments in which terrorism develops and thrives.
But all arms of the UN, including the Security Council, have a critical role to play to meet this challenge. Therefore, we support the resolution put before this Council as an important first step.
Third, we whole heartedly support a fully inclusive approach in particular with women and girls who suffer disproportionately from conflict and from climate change to play a meaningful role.
In conclusion Mr President we must act effectively, urgently and together, to address the climate crisis and reduce the increasing risks of climate insecurity.
I thank you.