The United Nations Climate Security Mechanism’s 2023 report, titled ‘Bridging Climate Action, Peace, and Security’, highlights 2023 as the warmest year on record, with extreme weather events causing widespread devastation. These climate disasters have exacerbated food insecurity, population displacement, and vulnerability across numerous regions worldwide.
The report emphasises that global conflict rates rose by 12% alongside these climate challenges compared to 2022. When combined with socio-economic and political factors, climate change has been identified as a significant contributor to increased conflict risks, thereby threatening human, national, and international peace and security. The report notes that of the 30 countries most vulnerable to climate change impacts, 18 are currently experiencing conflict or fragility. Moreover, 13 of these countries also rank among the lowest in women’s inclusion, justice, and security scores.
The growing global demand for climate, peace, and security (CPS) expertise and capacity continued to shape the CPS agenda in 2023. Communities and nations most affected by these challenges have become leading advocates, while regional organizations, civil society, and academia have advanced policies, analysis, and practices. The United Nations saw increased momentum in CPS efforts, with the Group of Friends on Climate and Security expanding to over 65 Member States by the year’s end, and the Security Council incorporating climate change-related language in 11 field mission mandates.
In March, members of the Security Council, including Malta, Mozambique, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates, launched Joint Pledges on Climate and Security, which grew to 11 members by the end of 2023. July saw the inclusion of recommendations to address CPS interlinkages in the Secretary-General’s policy brief on ‘A New Agenda for Peace’. The CPS agenda also gained traction within global climate action, with significant milestones achieved during COP28, including the introduction of a ‘Relief, Recovery, and Peace Day’ and the subsequent COP28 Declaration on ‘Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace’.
Responding to the increasing calls for action, the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), established in late 2018, aims to strengthen the UN’s capacity to systematically analyze and address the linkages between climate change, peace, and security. In 2023, the CSM entered a new phase to scale up good practices, expand its service offerings, and maximize its catalytic impact by leveraging the political and technical expertise of its partner entities.