Environment and Climate Change
Climate policy is not generally seen as the traditional domain of the Security Council. Nevertheless, Germany is convinced that the Council should take up this topic: Even today, the effects of climate change are leading to security policy questions, for instance through the increasing scarcity of drinking water and food crises on the island states of the Pacific and in other regions.
Some of these – already affected – countries are seriously concerned that a further marked rise in the sea level would call into question the very existence of these states. Those in the group of Pacific island states that have united as the “Pacific Small Island Developing States” have already appealed in writing to the Security Council that the topics of climate and security be put on the agenda: Conflicts over dwindling land and resources as well as the resultant increasing number of refugees and displaced persons could pose a serious threat to world peace.
Germany shares these concerns and sees itself, in its leading role on many issues of international climate protection, as a suitable partner for introducing this topic to the Security Council. From the Federal Government’s perspective, the traditional instruments of security policy alone are no longer suitable for the global problems and challenges of today. Rather, it is now imperative to promote a comprehensive understanding of the security concepts – and thereby also expressly incorporate an ecological component.
Germany moreover supports the pursuit of international efforts for climate protection, above all within the framework of the United Nations, in order to provide the greatest possible support for future agreements. In this way, concurrently, the United Nations’ profile and clout in the environmental field should be further strengthened.