The Council on Strategic Risks and its Center for Climate and Security are proud to have representatives attending the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Dubai, UAE from November 30- December 12, 2023. A range of challenging security and geopolitical dynamics will shape the landscape against which the negotiations will unfold. At the same time, it’s never been clearer that action to tackle climate threats can pay peace, security, and stability dividends, especially with peace explicitly named on the COP28 thematic agenda.
Analysis
Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace Declaration Sign On
The Center for Climate and Security joined states and non-government organizations in signing onto the UAE’s Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace Declaration. Read the Declaration here.
CSR, CCS and IMCCS Partner Events
Decarbonizing Defense and Beyond: Leading by Example on Clean Energy
December 2nd, 2:00-3:00 PM GST
Higher Education Pavilion, TA1-120 Ground Floor (Blue Zone)
The Council on Strategic Risks and the University of Pennsylvania will co-host a panel on “Decarbonizing Defense and Beyond: Leading by Example on Clean Energy” featuring IMCCS Secretary General Sherri Goodman, Hon. Rachel Jacobson, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, and Dr. Ravi Chaudhary, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Air Force, Installations, Energy and Environment to discuss how the Department of Defense can become more climate resilient while achieving the US’s net-zero goals through clean energy development and deployment, including nuclear energy and technology innovation.
Climate Geopolitics and the U.S. Military
December 4th, 2:00-3:00 PM GST
Higher Education Pavilion, TA1-120 Ground Floor (Blue Zone)
The Center for Climate and Security and the University of Pennsylvania will co-host a fireside chat on “Climate Geopolitics and the U.S. Military” featuring the University of Pennsylvania’s Dr. Scott Moore, Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Army, Installations, Energy, and Environment Rachel Jacobson and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience Iris Ferguson. Elsa Barron, CCS Research Fellow, will provide introductory remarks.
Climate change is reshaping risks and relationships across the globe. In 2021, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Climate Risk Analysis warned that “Without adaptation and resilience measures, climate hazards, particularly when combined with other stressors, are likely to contribute to political, economic, and social instability around the world. In many cases, the physical and social impacts of climate change transcend political boundaries, increasing the risk that crises cascade beyond any one country or region.” In response to shifting global dynamics and intensifying risks to human well-being around the world as a result of climate change, governments must adapt their institutions to meet unprecedented challenges. This panel will discuss climate change-related geopolitical dynamics and how they shape U.S. partnerships, risks, and opportunities abroad.
Additional Partner and Climate Security Related Events:
All times are local Gulf Standard Time.
- Dec 2, 10:30-11:15 AM, GDA Connect in the Energy Transition Hub (Green Zone), IMCCS Secretary General Sherri Goodman will speak at the Atlantic Council Panel Discussion “From Risk to Resilience: Energy Transition Strategies for Climate Security.”
- Dec 3, 12:45 PM-1:45 PM, UK Pavilion (Blue Zone): A high-level dialogue featuring the UK Ministry of Defense exploring how we build partnerships to better understand and respond to the cascading security implications of climate change.
- Dec 4, 12:55 PM, COP28 Media Centre (Green Zone): CCS Director Erin Sikorsky and a representative from HCSS will speak at the panel discussion “Political and Strategic Issues Challenging International Climate Action” as part of the TRENDS – Atlantic Council 3rd Annual Conference on Sustainable Security: The Soft and Hard Implications of Climate Action.
- Dec 4, 3:10 PM, (Blue Zone tbd): CCS Director Erin Sikorsky will speak on a panel, “Sustainability in Police and Security Services – Innovation and the Path to COP 28”
- Dec 8, 1:00-3:00 PM, Saudi Pavilion (Blue Zone): HCSS, the Arab Youth Green Voices and the Netherlands Embassy in Jordan are co-organizing a Water-Energy-Food Security Serious Game.
- Dec 9, 3:30 PM, Italian Pavilion (Blue Zone): The Italian Meteorological Service will host a side event in the Italian Pavilion promoting courses in the fields of education, training, and specialization on meteorology and climatology.
- Dec 9, 3:45-4:45 PM, Iraq Pavilion (Green Zone): HCSS/WPS and the United Nations Office for Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources and the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Association (KNMI) are co-hosting the panel discussion “The climate-extremism nexus in Iraq: challenges and opportunities for peacebuilding.”
- Dec 10, 10:00-11:30 AM, Presidency Pavilion (Green Zone): HCSS/ WPS together with COP28 Presidency, IFRC, UNCCD, and UNECE are hosting the high-level panel discussion “Water for peace and security: From risk to resilience.”
- Dec 10, 2:35-3:25 PM, Children & Youth Pavilion (Blue Zone): HCSS/ WPS, Wetlands International and Deltares are hosting the panel discussion “Winning with Water – Tools that support conflict-sensitive adaptation.”