To strengthen the capacity of the UN system to analyze and address the adverse impacts of climate change on peace and security, Sweden has committed to increase its support to the UN's Climate Security Mechanism (CSM) to USD 1.6 million in 2022.
Sweden has also recently financed four new UNDP positions on four continents, which will build a high caliber team of climate and security risk specialists at the regional level. They will provide regional and country specific analysis, strategies and support the developing of programming on climate security-related risks.
"I am very pleased that Sweden increases its strong support to the UN’s work on climate and security. While we already have clear indications that climate change leads to increased instability in many places, we need to understand even better how this takes place and at the same time find more efficient and smarter ways to address these challenges", said Anna Karin Eneström, Sweden’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
This increased Swedish support comes shortly after the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution on the linkages between climate change and international peace and security. The resolution had widespread support in the broader UN membership, with more than 110 countries co-sponsoring it.
"We were disappointed to see the Security Council resolution fail to be adopted in December, despite the hard work put in by many Council members, not least Niger and Ireland who put forward the resolution. The resolution would have laid the ground for more focus on the impacts that climate change has on peacebuilding, mediation, peacekeeping and other core UN areas", said Anna Karin Eneström.
"By increasing our support to the UN’s work on climate and security, our goal is to contribute to better outcomes on the ground, but also to send a signal that we need to stay the course, despite challenges in the Council. We will also continue the dialogue with those who are more skeptical to this agenda", said Anna Karin Eneström.
The work of the UN Climate Security Mechanism, a collaboration between the UN Development Program (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) and the UN Department of Peace Operations (DPO) aims to reduce the risks of effects stemming from climate change, such as prolonged droughts, recurring floods and loss of livelihoods, trigger increased tensions and conflicts in the world's most climate-exposed and vulnerable countries.
The mechanism, which was initiated by Sweden in 2018, is currently financially supported by five countries: Sweden, Germany, Norway, the United Kingdom and Ireland.
Sweden's continued and increased financial support for the UN Climate Security Mechanism contributes to an increased presence of expertise in more of the most climate-exposed countries through e.g., UN missions, UN country and regional offices. Through its government agency The Folke Bernadotte Academy Sweden also regularly trains UN’s Peace and Development Advisors on climate-related security risks.