Climate and Security

Progress Report on the implementation of the Joint Communication - "A New Outlook on the Climate and Security Nexus"

Council of the European Union EU documents Reports, articles, briefs 2023 Public 2025

This EU report provides an overview of the progress made on each of the actions committed to in the Joint Communication of June 2023 on the climate and security nexus. In an itemised fashion, it reviews the actions of the original Joint Communication and proposes further actions to improve upon present achievements.

The Joint Communication contains 28 actions to ensure the implementation of the CSDP Climate Package, to further integrate climate and security in dialogues with multi-level bilateral partners, and to explore the establishment of a Climate and Environment Security Data and Analysis Hub. All 28 actions are analysed, and there has been progress on all of them. Some examples of progress are: 

  • A pilot trend analysis on climate and security has been developed by the think-tank Adelphi in close coordination with the EEAS and Commission services.
  • Climate and security issues have been discussed in several channels of dialogue with the UN, AU, and OSCE, including on stabilisation and conflict prevention and mediation.

The Progress Report concludes that a whole-of-the-EU approach must be taken to tackle the nexus between climate change, environmental degradation and peace, security and defence across the EU and its Member States. Some actions are listed as particularly important for continuing the implementation of the Joint Communication:

  • Increase funding of climate and security-related research.
  • Strengthen efforts to operationalise the climate and security nexus in EU external action in fragile countries.
  • Develop and implement a modular, needs-based training package on the climate, environment, security, and defence nexus.
  • Strengthen international cooperation by ensuring that the climate and security nexus is included in the EU’s dialogues with its partners, from summits to working level exchanges.

The report emphasises the need for greater secondment of Environmental Advisors in the CSDP missions, and instructs key CSDP stakeholders in the EEAS and seconding member states on pathways to further implement the commitments.

Reference: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (2025) Progress Report on the implementation of the Joint Communication - "A New Outlook on the Climate and Security Nexus". Council of the European Union.

Resource

PDF | 19 pages
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