Impact through Partnerships: How International and Regional Organizations Can Advance the Climate, Peace and Security Agenda

In October 2024, the CoE hosted a workshop as a side event to the Berlin Climate and Security Conference together with CMC Finland, Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA), Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and Zentrum für International Friedenseinsätze (ZIF). These notes summarise the discussions and presentations at the workshop starting with presentations from the UN, EEAS, OSCE and NATO on their current structures and policies on climate and security as well as existing and desired interorganisational cooperation.

In the second part of the workshop, three subgroups discussed:

• Building institutional capacity on climate security
• Operational responses to climate-related security risks
• Strengthening institutional partnerships on climate security 

In the end, the plenary discussed the outcomes of the subgroup-sessions. The participants agreed that the Climate, Peace and Security agenda needs to be further institutionalised as it is at times relying too heavily on personal engagement. To achieve institutionalisation, a long-term strategy that mainstreams the topic across all areas while being clear on necessary actions is needed. Existing good practices should be leveraged, such as the cooperation between UN and regional organizations.

Future developments should also include an increased focus on data analysis and CPS training for all personnel going to missions to raise awareness, gain allies and build champions for the topic. Both military and civilian stakeholders should be part of these developments. Lastly, a peer-to-peer network of climate advisors would provide much-needed support as resources to advance the Climate, Peace and Security agenda could be shrinking.

Reference: European Centre of Excellence for Civilian Crisis Management (CoE) (2024). Impact through partnerships: How international and regional organizations can advance the Climate, Peace and Security agenda.