UNSC meeting: Peace, climate change and food insecurity

UN Security Council Session on Climate Change, Food Insecurity, and International Peace and Security

The UN Security Council convened a session to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, food insecurity, and their impact on international peace and security. The meeting brought together representatives from numerous countries, international organizations, and UN bodies to discuss the complex relationships between these global issues and propose strategies for addressing them.

The Nexus of Climate Change, Food Insecurity, and Conflict

Throughout the session, speakers consistently emphasized the intricate connections between climate change, food insecurity, and conflict. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres highlighted that climate chaos and food crises pose serious threats to global peace and security, noting that “empty bellies fuel unrest.” The representative from Ethiopia pointed out that climate change exacerbates the challenges faced by developing countries, particularly in terms of food production and security.

Many speakers, including those from Maldives, Switzerland, and Papua New Guinea, stressed that climate change acts as a risk multiplier, compounding diverse forms of insecurity. The Maldives representative noted that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are disproportionately affected by climate change, facing catastrophic effects such as coastal erosion and loss of potable groundwater.

Climate Change as a Security Threat

A significant portion of the discussion focused on framing climate change as a security issue rather than solely an environmental concern. Japan’s representative stated that their National Security Strategy of 2022 clearly recognizes climate change as a security issue affecting humankind’s existence. The speaker from Sierra Leone argued that climate change and food insecurity should be viewed as emerging threats to global stability, not merely environmental or humanitarian concerns.

However, some countries, such as Russia, argued that climate and socioeconomic issues fall outside the Security Council’s mandate. The Russian representative suggested that these matters would be more productively discussed at specialized fora.

Addressing Food Insecurity

Food insecurity emerged as a central theme, with many speakers highlighting its connection to both climate change and conflict. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative reported that 258 million people in 58 countries face high levels of acute food insecurity, with over two-thirds affected by climate and conflict.

Several countries shared their national experiences and initiatives. Algeria, for instance, is developing climate change adaptive and resilient crops, while the United States launched the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and Waste and Recycling Organics at COP 28. Brazil proposed a global alliance against poverty and hunger as part of its G20 presidency.

Climate Action and Resilience

Many speakers called for urgent and ambitious action to address climate change. Tonga’s representative emphasized that climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and well-being of Pacific peoples. The United Arab Emirates highlighted the importance of boosting climate resilience and adaptation mechanisms as efficient tools to reduce food insecurity, humanitarian needs, and instability.

Several countries, including China and Azerbaijan, outlined their national commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy use. The importance of climate finance was also stressed, with many developing countries calling for increased support from developed nations.

International Cooperation and Governance

The need for enhanced international cooperation and improved governance mechanisms was a recurring theme. Malta supported a holistic and integrated approach within the UN system to address climate-related food insecurity and conflict. Ireland advocated for adopting a thematic UN Security Council resolution on climate, peace, and security, as well as appointing a special representative for these issues.

Many speakers, including those from Switzerland and Croatia, emphasized the importance of cross-sector collaboration and the role of the UN Peacebuilding Commission in addressing climate and food security issues. However, some countries, like Brazil, cautioned against expanding the Security Council’s mandate on climate issues.

Humanitarian Concerns and International Law

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representative stressed the importance of respecting international humanitarian law in addressing the climate-conflict-food security nexus. Many speakers, including those from France and Norway, called for the protection of civilians and ensuring humanitarian access in conflict situations affected by climate change and food insecurity.

Gender Dimensions and Local Participation

Several speakers, including representatives from Slovenia and Malta, emphasized the importance of considering gender dimensions in addressing climate change and food insecurity. They advocated for women’s participation in decision-making processes and stressed the disproportionate impact of these issues on women and girls.

The role of local communities and indigenous knowledge was also highlighted. Papua New Guinea and other Pacific island nations stressed the importance of incorporating traditional knowledge in climate adaptation strategies.

Conclusion

The session underscored the complex and intertwined nature of climate change, food insecurity, and international peace and security. While there was broad agreement on the urgency of addressing these issues, divergent views emerged on the appropriate role of the Security Council and the best mechanisms for international cooperation. The discussions highlighted the need for comprehensive, multifaceted approaches that address root causes, enhance resilience, and promote sustainable development while considering the unique challenges faced by different regions and communities.

President – Guyana:
Good morning. The 9,547th meeting of the United of the Security Council is called to order. The provisional agenda for this meeting is maintenance of international peace and security, the impact of climate change, and food security. The agenda is adopted. I would like to warmly welcome the Secretary General, the Heads of State, distinguished Ministers, and other high-level representatives present in the Security Council Chamber. Your presence today underscores the importance of the subject matter on the discussion. In accordance with Rule 37 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the representatives of Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belgium, Belize, the plurinational state of Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Croatia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Singapore, South Africa, South Sudan, Spain, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Vanuatu, Vietnam, to participate in this meeting. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I invite the following briefers to participate in the meeting.Mr. Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Ms. Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Ms. Leiva Roesch, Director of Global Initiatives and Head of Climate Peace and Sustainable Development. the International Peace Institute. It is so decided. In accordance with Rule 39 of the Council’s Provisional Rules of Procedure, I also invite the following to participate in this meeting. His Excellency, Mr. Lambrinidis, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to United Nations, and Ms.. Laetitia Courtois, Permanent Observer and Head of Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations. It is so decided. The Security Council will now begin its consideration of Item 2 of the agenda. I wish to draw the attention of the Council members to Document S-2024-146, a letter dated 6 February 2024, from the Permanent Representative of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the United Nations, addressed to the Secretary-General, transmitting a concept paper on the item under consideration. I now give the floor to the Secretary-General, His Excellency, Mr. Antonio Guterres.

Secretary General Antonio Gueterres:
Mr. President, Excellencies, I thank the Government of Guyana for bringing us together to focus on the impact of the climate crisis and food insecurity on global peace and security. Climate chaos. and food crises are serious and mounting threats to global peace and security, and it’s only right that they are addressed by this Council. A global food crisis is creating a hellscape of anger and heartache for many of the world’s poorest people. And the climate crisis is accelerating with a deadly force, and last year was the hottest ever. Both these facts undermine peace. Empty bellies fool unrest. In Portugal, we have a saying, in a house with no bread, everyone argues and no one is right. Climate disasters and conflict both inflame inequalities, impair livelihoods, and force people from their homes. Death can strain relations, stoke mistrust, and sow discontent. While diminished resources and mass displacement can intensify competition, conflict can easily be sparked where tensions are high, institutions are weak, and people are marginalized. And women and girls pay the highest price, just as they do when food is short and climate disasters eat. Excellencies, at the same time, climate and conflict are two leading drivers of global food crisis. Where wars rage, anger reigns, whether due to the displacement of people, destruction of agriculture, damage to infrastructure, or deliberate policies of denial. Meanwhile, climate chaos is imperiling food production the world over. Floods and droughts destroy crops. Ocean changes disrupt fishing. Rising seas degrade land and fresh water. And shifting weather patterns ruin harvests and spawn pests. Climate and conflict were the main causes of acute food insecurity for almost another 74 million people. people in 2022. And in many cases, they collide to its communities with a double blow. Excellencies, I am dismayed to say that our world today is teeming with examples of the devastating relationship between hunger and conflict. In Syria, almost 13 million people go to bed hungry after a decade of war and a horrendous earthquake. In Myanmar, conflict and political instability have thrown progress towards ending anger into reverse. In Gaza, no one has enough to eat. Of the 700,000 angriest people in the world, four in five inhabit that tiny strip of land. In many places, climate disasters add another dimension. Every one of the 14 countries most at risk from climate change are suffering conflict. 13 of them face humanitarian crises this year. In Haiti, hurricanes combine with violence and lawlessness to create a humanitarian crisis for millions. In Ethiopia, drought comes hot on the hills of war. Almost 16 million people are estimated to require food assistance this year. And refugees from the conflict-enabling Sudan are adding pressure on already scarce resources. In the Sahel, rising temperatures are raising tensions. Drying up water resources, wreaking grazing land, and ruining smallholder agriculture the staple of local economies. Against a backdrop of long-standing political instability, conflict between farmers and landowners is the result. Meanwhile, globally, we risk resurgence of food inflation as droughts sap the Panama Canal. and violence hits the Red Sea, throwing supply chains into disarray. Excellencies, without action, the situation will deteriorate. Conflicts are multiplying. The climate crisis is set to spiral as emissions continue to rise, and acute food insecurity has been increasing year on year. The World Food Programme estimates that over 330 million people were affected in 2023, and it has warned of an acute deterioration in 18 hunger hotspots earlier this year. To avoid mounting threats to international peace and security, we must step in and act now to break the deadly links between conflict, climate and food insecurity. First, all parties to all conflicts must abide by international humanitarian law. Far too often, this is not the case. Security Council Resolution 2417 on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict is clear. Goods essential to civilians’ survival must be protected. Starvation of civilians may constitute a war crime, and the humanitarians must have unimpeded access to civilians in need. This Council has a critical role in demanding compliance and holding those who breach the resolution to account. Second, we must fund humanitarian operations in full to prevent disaster and conflict from feeding hunger. Last year, humanitarian operations were less than 40% funded. A third of the money for these operations was earmarked for tackling food insecurity. Third, we must create the conditions to resolve conflict and preserve peace within countries and between countries. Exclusion, inequalities and poverty all increase the risk of conflict. Turbocharging progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, including our goal of zero hunger, is the answer. We need massive investment in a just transformation to healthy, equitable and sustainable food systems. And we need governments, business and society working together to make such systems a reality. Today we see a grotesque disparity between allocation and need. Globally almost a third of food is wasted, while hundreds of millions of people go to bed hungry every night. And food consumption, production and distribution are responsible for around a third of global greenhouse gas emissions. We must create food systems that feed the planet, without wrecking the planet. That means aligning climate action and food systems transformation, as I called for at the UN Food Systems Talks take last July, to help secure sustainable development, good livelihoods and healthy people on a healthy planet. This requires working together and bringing all people – women, young people and marginalized communities – into decision making. We must also build and finance social protection systems to protect livelihoods and ensure basic access to services and resources. And we must strengthen and renew global peace and security frameworks. It is vital that we make the most of the Summit of the Future later this year, where Member States will consider the proposed new Agenda for Peace. This presents a comprehensive vision for peace in our changing world, based on prevention and international law, and anchored in human rights. And it recognizes the links between sustainable development, climate action and peace. Fourth, we must get a grip on the climate crisis to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Because climate action is action for food security and action for peace. G20 nations must lead the just global faith. result of fossil fuels in line with the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances. But all countries must create ambitious new national climate action plans or nationally determined contributions by 2025 that align with the 1.5 degree limit. We must also get serious about adaptation, ensuring every person on Earth is protected by an early warning system by 2027 and that early warning leads to early action, and delivering adequate adaptation finance. Developed countries must clarify how they will honor the promise of US$40 billion a year in adaptation finance by 2025, and they must show how the adaptation finance gap will be closed. We also need substantial contributions to the new loss and damage fund established in COP28, and we need to support local institutions to take the lead in reducing disaster risk in their areas. We need to act in terms of financing. The achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals without a doubt represents the best way to prevent conflict. However, this requires investments. Today, buffeted by the cost-of-living crisis and unsustainable debt levels, many developing countries simply cannot afford to invest in climate action, in resilient food systems, or in other sustainable development priorities. I have proposed a plan to relaunch the Sustainable Development Goals to the tune of $500 billion per year for the sustained, affordable, long-term financing of sustainable development and climate action. To achieve this, there is a need to adopt urgent measures in terms of debt by granting relief to those countries that have to face crippling reimbursements over the next three years. There is also a need to recapitulate the debt that has been accumulated over the past three years. capitalize multilateral development banks and to change their economic models in order to help them to mobilize far more private financing at a reasonable cost to developing countries. At the same time, developing countries need to prioritize expenditures to advance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. It is distressing to observe governments’ expenditures of untold sums in weaponry while continuously reducing the budgets allocated to food security, climate action, and sustainable development in general. And lastly, we need to target areas of convergence between food insecurity, the climate, and conflict. We need to forge partnerships, public policies, and programs that help us to tackle challenges in a simultaneous way. For example, by taking into account the climate risks and food security in peacebuilding or investing in climate adaptation programs to help populations to manage shared resources. The United Nations Climate Security Mechanism was devised to take into account the links between climate peace and security in our work. The Convergence Initiative was launched last year to help countries to connect climate action to the transformation of – to food systems transformation. We also need to see to it that financing for climate action reaches the people and the areas that are affected by conflict. The Peacebuilding Fund can serve as a catalyst in order to mobilize efforts of other partners and to make this ambition a reality. And I call upon the Security Council – Council, to give thought to how best to tackle the interconnected threats on climate, food security, and international peace and security. It’s clear. We can break the deadly nexus of anger, climate chaos, and conflict, and quell the threat they pose to international peace and security. Let us act to do so and build a livable, sustainable future free from hunger and free from the scourge of war. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the Secretary General for his briefing. I now give the floor to Mr. Simon Stiell.

Simon Stiell:
Mr. President, Excellencies, I want to begin today by thanking Guyana for bringing this important topic to the attention of the Security Council. Because there’s no two ways about it. The less that is done to tackle climate change, the more conflicts this chamber will be faced with. Only a few years ago, the world believed we could eradicate hunger. Today, one in ten people on earth already suffers from chronic hunger. That number is unacceptable. If climate change accelerates, it will only become worse. Climate change is contributing to food insecurity and to conflict. Rapid sustained action to cut greenhouse gas emissions and to increase resilience is needed now to help stop both from spiraling out of control. The world is heating fast, rainfall patterns are changing, and storms are becoming stronger and far more destructive. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, food production is already lower than it would have been without climate change. And in the not-too-distant future, we risk huge supply shortages. shocks where harvests fail simultaneously in major producer countries. If heating continues, food production will decline across many countries. In others, little will grow at all. Food shortages, price spikes, and hunger are likely. Without climate action, they’re almost certain. The links between hunger and conflict are well-established. Historically, bread riots have fueled revolutions and toppled governments. Competition for arable land becomes fiercer in times of heat and drought. Food scarcity has fueled intercommunal violence within countries and between them. The combination of climate change, hunger, and war is a devastating one. There is no national security without food security. And there will be no food security without enhanced action to stop climate change. But I’m not here today just to present problems. Because for all of these problems, there are solutions and ways forward, both inside this forum and other fora, including the UNFCCC process. At the UNFCCC, our mandate does not expand to decision-making on peace and security. We can and do acknowledge the role climate change and food security play in driving conflict in our reports. We can build partnerships and establish collaborations to address exacerbating factors. But it is my view that this Council also has a role to play. We must acknowledge more can be done rather than hoping the problem will go away, which of course it won’t. This council should be requesting a regular stream of information on climate security risks. The UNFCCC can help in the development of these updates. But ultimately this forum should be abreast of this crisis driver in real time to aid in better decision-making. For example, where the programming of vertical funds now acknowledge conflict sensitivity, they should also be climate sensitive. From the UNFCCC’s perspective, national adaptation plans, climate finance, and new and stronger nationally determined contributions can reduce our vulnerability and alongside with the measures outlined by others here today, help prevent hunger and conflict. Let me go through each of these important tools. Every country needs to implement a national climate adaptation plan to protect its people, its livelihoods, and nature from spiraling climate impacts. And every national adaptation plan submitted to us to date identifies increasing food security as a top priority. Investing in climate resilience and adaptation, including change in agricultural practices towards regenerative food production, while working to nurture and conserve nature, would not only blunt the damage from extreme climate events, but can also ensure that food that future generations will be able to consume in a sustainable way. food security needs are ensured sustainably and universally leaving no one behind. A COP 28 in Dubai countries agreed that now is the time to invest in designing piloting and delivering climate adaptation plans for food systems from planting new crops to better meteorological information and communication. Countries need money for adaptation, particularly developing countries that are vulnerable to climate shocks. Many of these same countries are already facing scarcity, fragility and conflict. But we face significant gaps in funding for climate action and adaptation finance needs are at least 10 times greater than current international public financial flows. Developing countries excluding China need 2.4 trillion dollars every year to build clean energy economies and adapt to climate impacts. These are large numbers but their investments in the future compared to the spiraling costs of crisis and conflict, they pale. And unlike rebuilding after war or natural catastrophes, adaptation funding is productive. It’s an investment in better societies. Climate finance is an investment in thriving economies, in abundance, not scarcity, in preventing the conditions that cause conflict. Done right, climate finance will benefit countries with significant humanitarian needs. But today, not in our finance flows to extremely fragile and conflict-ridden states. That too must change. Honourable Council Members, while adapting to a warming world is now imperative, we must also do our utmost to limit dangerous further rises in temperature. Our tool for this is the Nationally Determined Contributions, National Climate Targets and Plans. These action plans must be aligned with the goals of the Paris Agreement, cover every greenhouse gas, and lay out how each sector of the economy will transition. And in light of today’s conversation, they must include measures to protect food security. All countries are due to submit these new plans by early next year. They need to be ambitious and keep alive the possibility of limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Investment in adaptation, resilience and clean energy can increase prosperity and food security and help avoid future conflicts. Done right, climate action can help build peace. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank Mr. Stiell for his briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Beth Bechdoll.

Beth Bechdol:
Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, I too would like to start by thanking the President of Guyana for convening this meeting and inviting the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN to speak. Climate and conflict are the most important issues. urgent action to address global food insecurity. The scientific evidence and the policy direction are clear. Climate change is compromising food security, and its impacts are a growing threat to international peace and security. It is having an alarming effect on people, the planet, and what I would like to address this morning, agri-food systems, meaning how and when we produce, harvest, process, and store our food. Increasing temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, and greater frequency of climate extremes are already a reality and are becoming more intense. The climate crisis spares no one, but it does not affect everyone equally or in the same way. We know that the populations at greatest risk are those that depend on agriculture and natural resources, they live in rural areas, and they are farmers themselves. Their livelihoods are highly exposed and are vulnerable to climate change impacts, therefore limiting their capacity to respond and making them prone to disputes arising from the scarcity of these natural resources. Having viable livelihoods are central to mitigating these climate-related security risks. When threatened, it creates an important pathway for how climate change can contribute to the risk of conflict. For FAO, as a specialized technical agency of the UN system focused specifically on food and agriculture, we increasingly find ourselves in this very space. We have heard it said many times, there is no food security without peace and no peace without food security. But now, more and more, we are dealing with the impacts of climate change. We have seen firsthand how conflict leads to hunger and malnutrition, and it is no coincidence that half of the world’s hungry people live in conflict-affected zones. According to the 2023 Global Report on Food Crises, the main drivers of food insecurity and hunger around the world are conflict and climate change. Two hundred and fifty-eight million people in 58 countries are facing high levels of acute food insecurity, IPC phase 3 or above, and over two-thirds are there because of climate and conflict – that is 174 million people. And while there may not be a direct causality between the two, there is clear evidence that climate change increases risks and drivers of conflict and instability, such as disputes over land and water, and that conflict contributes to climate change vulnerability, especially for people who are forced to leave their homes and migrate. As much as 70 percent of the most climate-vulnerable countries are also among the most politically and economically fragile. Climate change will undo the progress that has been made in alleviating hunger, but as it intensifies, it will create further disruptions and continue to be a driver of conflict. It is projected that 10 percent of the currently suitable area for major crops and livestock could be climatically unsuitable by mid-century under high-emission scenarios. This is a further reduction of an already limited area that we depend on to produce our food. And it is this scenario – it is all farmers, small-scale farmers, pastoralists, foresters, and fisherfolk who bear the brunt of climate impacts due to their dependence on natural resources – soil, water, and land. I see this on my own family’s farm in the Midwest of the United States, and I see it firsthand in places like Afghanistan, Kenya, Somalia, Uganda, and elsewhere. Conflict impacts the ability of communities to produce and access food. It reduces agricultural yields and productivity. It displaces farmers from their lands. It destroys agricultural assets, disrupts markets and services, increases prices, and even introduces new risks for human health. We have to equip farmers and communities to prepare for and respond to these crises and to recover quickly from them. We have to help them build resilience. We are actually seeing the results of these efforts in a place like Afghanistan. We are starting to see a significant decline of the population facing acute food insecurity. And we know these approaches can work. We just need to scale them up. The Secretary General’s Peacebuilding Fund has been responding effectively to the need to address the intersection of climate change and conflict, and the effects of heightened competition over natural resources. It works. And FAO remains committed to supporting these types of projects and to strengthen collaboration with partners. The relationship between climate change and conflict is complex, it’s context-specific, and it’s multidimensional. Let me share just a few examples. In West and Central Africa, cross-border transhumance is a long-standing traditional pastoral practice. It is when herders migrate seasonally, crossing borders with their livestock in search of water and pasture. Historically, it has been peaceful. But climate change and environmental and security pressures have altered these migratory routes. This has led to a steady increase in tensions within agriculture, between farming and herding communities, often linked to growing competition for already scarce natural resources such as water and land, or to damage incurred to crops in the fields. This problem exists in Burkina Faso, in Mali, and Niger, where FAO and the IOM are working together to reduce violent conflicts linked to transhumance through an alert system and mechanisms for conflict management. This is just a glimpse of our work with herders and pastoralists. But as you know, climate change and conflict affects all agricultural sectors, not just livestock. It affects crop production, fisheries, and forestry, which are intimately and inextricably linked to climate change. And it creates additional pressures on accessing natural resources. In Yemen… FAO has implemented a Water for Peace project, which has helped to mitigate water-based conflicts with women, often as the conflict resolution agents. Through Cash for Work, participating communities in protected areas where water flows during rainfall and rehabilitated irrigation canals are the focus. Farming communities engaged under the project to resolve local conflicts over upstream and downstream water allocation is prioritized. Climate change and the security risks it presents knows no geographical boundaries. Therefore, cooperation is needed at all levels to ensure the peaceful and sustainable management of shared resources. To continue to advance this agenda, let me close by recommending the following five actions. One, prioritize investments. We need to build climate-resilient agri-food systems and local approaches that help build and sustain peace, drawing on climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, and community-based approaches. Two, please request UN entities to regularly analyze and report on risks and links associated with climate change. Data and information are key for targeted interventions. Three, improve strategic coordination at all levels and leverage existing mechanisms, such as the UN Climate Security Mechanism and IGAD’s Climate Security Coordination Mechanism. Fourth, source specialized climate peace and security advisor roles in more UN missions, especially those susceptible to climate change. And last, establish regional climate peace and security hubs, such as was done by the Office of the Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. I’ll conclude by simply saying that we cannot neglect agriculture as a key solution to the growing threats from climate change, conflict, and their impacts on food security. It is time for us to focus on farmers, on pastoralists, on fisher folk, on foresters, the people who feed this world. And we cannot afford to leave them behind. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

President – Guyana:
I thank Ms. Bechdol for her briefing. I now give the floor to Ms. Jimena Leiva Roesch.

Jimena Leiva Roesch:
Thank you. Thank you so much, Mr. President. Thank you, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali. Thank you for the invitation. Thank you for placing this issue as top priority for Guyana. Ten years ago, I was sitting at this horseshoe table as an elected member for Guatemala’s delegation. It is a great honor now to speak as the International Peace Institute. I know firsthand how difficult it is to figure out where climate change fits in the Security Council. It’s been a very long journey, and I’ve been a skeptic myself. Climate change is like no other issue in the Council’s agenda. It’s not boots in the ground. It’s not an enemy we can’t condemn, name, or sanction. It challenges all our known assumptions on what an enemy is. And because of this, it could actually unify humanity. Climate change is by far where the highest collaboration exists between countries and where multilateralism thrives. The UNFCCC is the central place for its diplomacy, but the Convention and the Paris Agreement do not address peace and security. That’s the remit of this body, and Simon emphasized that as well. The question is, how can the Council respond to the calls so many developing countries have made, from Niger to the Dominican Republic here, from Mozambique to the Pacific Island States, and now Guyana? Many countries keep knocking at the Council’s door. When will the Council respond? Not if. When, Mr. President, the planet is warming at an accelerated rate and we’re dangerously close to 1.5 degrees. The highest scientific body is unequivocal on how all our human systems will be impacted once we cross that threshold. And it’s not science fiction, but it’s hard to imagine these scenarios because indeed they’re so apocalyptic. In any of us that are parents, or dare I say grandparents, this should send chills to our spine. But does this mean that we prefer to ignore them? The oceans and forests, our greatest carbon sinks, soon will not be able to keep providing this noble service. Extreme heat will become an unbearable reality, affecting crops, waters, and our own very survival. Human mobility will be unprecedented, more than we have ever experienced, and our record on migration is appalling. Warm water coral reefs will cease to exist, deeply affecting global fish stocks and countries that depend on it. And as rising oceans claim lands and islands, entire cultures teeter on the brink, their ancestral homes vanishing beneath the waves. Mr. President, what then is the role of the Council? First, we need to rethink the link between sovereignty and territory loss, enshrining the Montevideo Principles, as island states will need to keep their sovereignty even when they lose their lands. The pushback on climate experience in the Council has left a significant gap in responsibility, particularly for states that do not have a specific agenda in the Council and yet face this existential threat. As we move closer to warming beyond 1.5, countries will experience compounding extreme events, disasters, and economic shocks. For many middle-income countries, this is coupled with high debt and unfair rules in global trade and finance. mention. These climate impacts amplify inequality, even women, children, and the disabled is proportionally affected. The poor and vulnerable will be even more poor and more vulnerable. The role of this solid body is not to replace the UNFCCC. A role for the Council is to examine how climate magnifies existing realities, including and beyond the countries in the Council’s agenda related to peace and security. To do this, it can invoke Article 34, which to paraphrase, the Security Council may investigate any situation which might lead to international friction or give rise to a dispute or situation likely to endanger the maintenance of peace and security. Once again, I would like to say may investigate any situation. Members of the Security Council could set up a provisional investigative body to better understand the link between food security, climate, and conflict at current warming levels. Setting up this body under Article 34 could help clarify in a serious and scientific manner what could be the role of the Council. It needs to be a space that includes all range of views on this issue, held by permanent and elected members. All members need to be seized. If we set up this body, and IPI would be happy to help, it would send a new message to the world that the Security Council is serious about the smallest of nations, because after all, isn’t that the purpose of the UN? To protect the smallest. Mr. President, the Security Council is not alone in trying to figure out how to address climate change. The World Bank, the IMF, face a similar challenge. All our institutions established in 1945 need expanded mandates. The Charter provides the mandate through Article 34. It is mostly about expanding its practice. There is good news, though. The resources are there to transform food systems. We just need the leadership and the will to repurpose $638 billion subsidies that go against climate-positive investments and barely trickle down to the farmer. The money is there. So climate is a challenge that, unlike many others in the Council, is not intractable. It can be solved through cooperation, innovation, and a deep commitment to our shared future. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank Ms. Roesch for her briefing. I shall now make a statement in my capacity as President of the Cooperative Republic of Ghana. Your Excellency, Secretary General, Excellencies, the challenges to international peace and security continue to evolve, and our understanding and approach to these challenges must also continue to evolve to effectively address them. I therefore welcome the perspective offered by the Secretary General and our briefers. The interrelationship between climate change, food security, and peace and security is clear. Climate change and conflict are two of the main drivers of food insecurity, and often overlap, creating a vicious cycle of instability and need. The assessment is that climate change is expected to grow significantly as a driver of conflict. We recognize, too, that armed conflict can induce food insecurity and the threat of famine. Please allow me, therefore, to dwell for a few moments on these issues. And many may ask whether this situation is a crisis or not, or whether these topics are even relevant for the Security Council and are a priority for discussion at this level. Just to allow those who may have these lingering questions an understanding of whether it’s a crisis or not, I wish to point to some current facts. As we gather here today, an estimated 149 million Africans are facing acute food insecurity, an increase of 12 million people from a year ago. This equates to a risk category of three or higher, crisis, emergency, and catastrophe. On the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Scale 1-5, some 122 million of those facing acute food insecurity are in countries experiencing conflict. Eighty-two percent of the total accentuating that conflict. is the primary driver of acute food insecurity in Africa. And the same can be said about Haiti. Internal conflict being a key contributor to food insecurity, climate insecurity that ultimately leads to governance issues. Based on the Africa improved foods forecast, it will cost U.S. $5 billion to eradicate hunger caused by war. And then we have the issue of agricultural land taken out of production due to war. In Ukraine, the overall value of the damages and losses for agricultural enterprises is estimated at almost 4 billion U.S. dollars. Most times, these are small to medium-sized farmers with no insurance policies. That is millions of families we are sending to the poverty line as a result of war. We don’t speak about it, we don’t calculate it, we don’t put it in the equation, but this is the reality. My friends, in Colombia in 2011, the Commission to Monitor Public Policies on Forced Displacement stated that between 1980 and July 2010, 6.6 million hectares of land has been taken out of production. been abandoned or seized as a consequence of conflict. As a consequence of conflict. These stats and all that I’m saying are publicly available. What have we done about it? We have done very little because we do not see the interplay and we do not place priority on these issues as a consequence of war and conflict. Then let’s look at the issue of war-induced displacement and forced migration. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or the UNHCR has identified at least 108 million forcibly displaced people, including 35.3 million refugees and more than 62 million people who are internally displaced because of conflict and other factors. Of these individuals, 76% live in low and middle-income countries. 76% live in low and middle-income countries. Let us look at the issue of deforestation in conflict areas. In total and across all conflict areas assessed, forest loss increased by 10% in 2020. Did we hear about this at COP? Did we hear about the deforestation as a result of war and conflict that increased by 10% in 2020? That is 3.2 million hectares based on the woody The biomass loss in tropical areas only disamounts to approximately 1.1 megatons of CO2. Nearly four times the total emissions from the UK in 2020. This is the reality of conflict and war and deforestation and climate. How are we placing this in the equation of net zero? Is it in the equation because we are not seeing a decrease in conflict and wars? Let us move to another issue, land degradation. Go back to Ukraine. The war has destroyed $2.1 billion worth of farmland and unharvested winter crops. This is the cost, $2.1 billion worth of farmland and unharvested winter crops. Let us look at the issue of pollution. In 2019 alone, the U.S. military emitted 57 million tons of CO2. With a war in Iraq generating over 141 million tons of CO2 emissions in four years. 141 million tons of emission in four years. The equivalent, this is the equivalent of 20 million cars in one year. We are talking about EVs. That war over four years equates to 25 million cars. The emission of 25 million cars in one year. The total amount of emission. after 18 months of war in the Ukraine is estimated to be a hundred and fifty million tons of co2 which is more than the annual emission of highly developed countries like Belgium. It has been estimated that in the first 35 days of the Israel-Gaza conflict war emissions amounting to approximately 60.3 million tons of carbon equivalent were discharged. Some analysts project that a total emission could escalate to an alarming 629 million tons of carbon so the conflict continue for a year. 629 million tons of carbon and this is the conflicts and war as they exist. We have not yet calculated the impact on environment and food in the rebuilding phase. That is another calculation that should be added to the equation. The question is most times it is the developing world that carries the greatest burden. Are we going to be bold enough to calculate these damages and assign a value to the damage? a result of conflict and war? Are we going to be bold enough to even address the level of criminality that exists in creating such damage? And that is why we believe in Guyana that this is a matter for the Security Council. Because these are issues that are addressed by the Security Council. But a component that constitutes food and climate are sometimes missing from the overall analysis of the impact of war and conflict. I am not going to go into generational disruptions. The movement of people, the Secretary General, often speak about the impact. I am not going to go into the dysfunctionality as a result of social costs and its impact. Because social costs drive people, most times, back to subsistence living. When they would utilize the forest, they would move to new areas, they would clear new areas. These are all issues that must be taken into account as we address this issue. So my friends, we believe strongly that a very targeted approach must be adopted. The Security Council must take into account the consequential effects on food security and climate in addressing the issues of conflict and war. And these issues are intricately linked to the rule of law, democracy, and governance. They are all interconnected. We therefore are of the very strong view that the Security Council should outline a series of steps that must include a full analysis of the impact, and just as we adopt measures to safeguard humanitarian interests, we must adopt measures in our procedures to deal with the effect on food and climate, at a minimum. We must be bold enough. We have the ability. We have the political will. We must now incorporate measures at the U.N. Security Council to deal with climate and food as it relates to wars and conflict. I thank you. I resume my function as President of the Council. I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Youcef Cherfa, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Algeria.

Algeria:
Mr. President, Your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, at the outset, I would like to convey to His Excellency, the President of Guyana, Mr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the greetings of his brother, the President of Algeria, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune. I would like to express to him our thanks and appreciation for the invitation to convene this thematic, important meeting, which discusses this complex, interlinked relation between climate, security, food security, and conflict. I would also like to thank the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres, for his comprehensive briefing. I also commend the valuable contributions of Mr. Simon Stell, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and Ms. Beth Bechdol, the Deputy Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, and Ms. Jimena Leivia Roesch. I thank them all for enriching our discussion. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, no doubt climate change is a threat multiplier. It multiplies the threats facing our states in varying degrees. Climate temperatures, changing weather patterns, sea level rise are all factors that disrupt agricultural production, drive people to forcibly move and heighten competition over vital resources like water and land, thus fueling conflict and instability, in particular in vulnerable and conflict-affected areas. has a negative impact on the stability and security of countries of the south and deepens growth disparities. In this way, our countries seek to find practical solutions that enable them to provide food and address climate change to meet its needs in relation to sustainable development and to prevent our communities from spiraling into crises. Accordingly, Algeria has spared no effort to provide all conditions necessary to ensure the development and sustainability of national food systems and agricultural sector. This is achieved by developing strategic sectors, integrating renewable energy in rural production, and develop genetic resources, as well as developing climate change and adaptive, resilient crops. Algeria is also building the green belt, knowing its positive impact on fighting desertification, land degradation, and reducing dust and sand storms. It also helps and contributes to reducing CO2 emissions and adapting with climate change. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, the role of this Council is worth commending, as it has the maintenance of international peace and security as its primary responsibility. By convening such important thematic debates, the Council has been able to develop a comprehensive and comprehensive plan for the future of Algeria.

President – Guyana:

Algeria:
raises public awareness and sounds the alarm in relation to some of the problems that threaten international security and stability, like this interconnection between climate change, food security, and conflict. As contribution from my country to enrich this important discussion, Algeria would like to propose the following streams of action. First, conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms are necessary. Taking proactive measures for conflict prevention and addressing the root causes is crucial to reduce the risks and promote stability on the long run. Second, building resilient communities. We do need to invest in building the resilience of societies and ecological systems in the face of the impacts of climate change. This is to be achieved by supporting sustainable agricultural practices and promote the preservation of water as well as the sound management of natural resources. Third, addressing the root causes of food insecurity by diagnosing and identifying the weaknesses and imbalances in the production system, supply chain, and addressing those causes collectively, particularly by developing comprehensive economic development, reducing poverty, inequality, and promoting good governance. The access of agricultural products from the south to international markets should be promoted and the trade barriers should be lifted. Fourth, enhanced international cooperation by building multilateral partnerships to share knowledge and resources and support international organizations like DEFAO, the IFAD, and the World Food Program. Cooperation should also be enhanced in the adaptation strategies to climate change. Fifth, mechanisms should be found to help developing countries, in particular, to receive the sufficient and adequate financial support. Sixth, promote innovation, scientific research, and development in agriculture in relation to early warning and climate. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Nigeria strongly believes that the best solution to address climate change and food insecurity and instability throughout the world is closely linked to us upholding international law and its provisions without discrimination or double standards. A case in point is the tragic situation in which the people of Gaza are living. For more than five months, they have been subjected to intensive shelling and bombing, and destruction of all vital facilities by the occupying power. The result is the falling of more than 28,000 martyrs and doubles of these wounded and displaced. This bombardment and shelling left nothing alive. It caused a suffocating food crisis, deteriorating environment situation in the region. This is just a proof of the disregard by the occupying power of the most basic moral principles. It’s total disregard of international humanitarian frameworks and binding international rules. Notwithstanding the gravity of this horrendous situation, the international community stands as a bystander in the face of these flagrant violations. And instead of putting an end to this Zionist aggression and its ensuing serious harms on humans, nature, and environment alike, one of the most important UN relief agency is subject to a systematic defamation campaign, the objective of which is to undermine its credibility, drying up sources of its funding, the funding that is addressed to respond to the basic needs of the people. In this connection, Algeria calls on the international community, in particular this council, in light of its broad powers conferred upon it by the Charter of the United Nations in relation to international peace and security, to shoulder its responsibility to put an immediate end to the suffering of the Palestinian people and to improve the humanitarian situation. situation in Gaza and ensure the immediate, continuous, adequate delivery of aid to the people affected. In conclusion, I would like to recall once again that the climate change, food insecurity, and conflict-related challenges require firm commitment and concerted action from all countries. On our part, being a responsible member in the international community, Algeria is all ready to contribute to collective efforts to protect peace, security, and prosperity for all. Thank you for your attentive listening.

President – Guyana:
Thank you, Your Excellency, Mrs. Cherfa, for his statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Michael Regan, Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

United States :
Thank you, Mr. President. It’s an honor to be with you all today. President Ali, thank you for hosting us today, and thank you for your exemplary leadership in tackling climate and food insecurity through the Caribbean Community and Common Market. For years, climate change has been the topic of conversation on the world stage, and its impact is far-reaching, as we can see with our own very eyes. From increased crop failures to water insecurity to increasing extreme weather events, the impacts of climate change exacerbate food insecurity for many and worse instability for all of us. No one is exempt. Those of us around the table in this room represent every corner of the globe. I’m sure you all are aware that last year the Horn of Africa experienced its worst drought in recorded history. The World Food Program estimated that more than 23 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia face severe hunger. We know that floods in Somalia have driven close to half a million people from their homes and approximately 4.3 million people are facing crisis or worst levels of hunger. Exacerbating the security challenges Somalia faces. These are only a few examples of how climate change can impact lives globally, and no country is immune for these effects, not even the United States. In 2022, very low food security households in the United States increased, and roughly 36% of U.S. households with incomes below the federal poverty line were food insecure. This is simply unacceptable. Since day one, as administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, I have committed tens of billions of dollars to ensuring that all people, regardless of the color of their skin, the community they live in, or the money in their pockets, have clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and the opportunity to live a healthy life. The impacts of climate change and food insecurity oftentimes disproportionately affect those most vulnerable among us. And in response, we have three interlinked priorities for transforming the food system. Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, the United States is supporting food security and nutrition for all, tackling climate change mitigation and adaptation, and creating inclusive and equitable food systems that address the needs of the most vulnerable communities. Back in December, at the UNFCCC COP 28 in the United Arab Emirates, I was proud to launch the National Strategy for Reducing Food Loss and waste and recycling organics. Food loss and waste represent 8% of global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. When food is wasted, so is the opportunity to nourish people. When food is wasted, so are the resources that were used to produce, process, distribute, and prepare that food. Reducing food loss and waste is critically important for our climate and will help provide social and economic benefits, leading to an increase in stability and security across the globe. The United States is also working with the UN Environment Program to help identify sources of food waste in rapidly urbanizing areas of developing countries. At the same time, it is essential that we ensure the most vulnerable have access to food. That is why the United States is honored to fund more than one-third of the World Food Program budget. Food insecurity is present in the United States. It’s present in Guyana. It’s present in rural areas and in cities. And the impacts of climate change on reducing food security can be seen both on land and at sea. With rising temperatures and ocean acidification, critical blue economy food sources are at risk, and so are the people that rely on them. As global leaders, we have a responsibility to foster conditions for increased peace and security in the world. Our work both inside and outside of this room is preventing and reducing food insecurity while addressing climate change and its impacts. We must continue to work together to achieve our goals, and we must remain relentless in that pursuit. Mr. President, thank you.

Slovenia:
Thank you, Mr. President. Let me congratulate you on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and thank you for convening the open debate on the highly pressing topic of climate change and food insecurity. The Council’s role in advancing prevention and sustaining peace in a world with a rapidly changing climate is essential. I would also like to thank the briefers for highlighting the complexity of interdependence of climate change, food security, and peace. Mr. President, climate change-induced weather extremes, such as droughts and floods, lead to natural resource shortages and food insecurity. Already fragile communities are usually hit the hardest. Slovenia follows with great concern how climate change has exposed millions of people in the Horn of Africa to acute food insecurity. Conflict risks escalate amid food and water scarcity. The growing gap between water supply and demand might lead to even more conflicts over water resources, arable land, and food, as we see across the Sahel. On the other hand, armed conflicts also often lead to the devastation of food systems. The war in Sudan has disrupted the crops and has left the food markets empty. The war in Gaza has devastated water infrastructure and natural environment, considerably adding to the extreme suffering of civilian population already facing severe food shortages. Slovenia is greatly concerned about the impact of war in Ukraine and its long-term consequences on global food supply chains. Compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law is of paramount importance. Finally, armed conflicts affect the human and natural environment long after the guns go silent. Soil degradation, water pollution, habitat destruction, and dangers posed by landmines and unexploded ordnance hinder recovery and restoration of food systems after the war. Mr. President, the UN system must use all tools at its disposal, including the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in addressing climate change and food insecurity. This is key to boosting inclusive, sustainable development and building resilience of affected societies. Millions around the world are bearing the brunt of the changing climate, with women, children, and older persons hit the hardest. Eating last and eating least is a daily reality of mothers in the most fragile communities. Emergency humanitarian relief and development cooperation in the field of climate adaptation and mitigation must be complemented with endeavors for peace and security. And the UN Security Council must play its part. Climate change is a defining challenge of our time. It poses direct existential threats to many UN member states, and it can act as a driver of conflicts. The transboundary nature of climate change and food insecurity demands the response of the international community as a whole. We as the members of the Security Council have a challenging task ahead of us, preserving peace and security in the context of addressing issues related to the effects of climate change that are relevant to our mandate. We can do that by looking at all situations on the Security Council agenda through a climate-sensitive lens. The UN’s climate security mechanism and its network of climate security advisors can significantly contribute to that end. We can also tap into the potential of new technologies and early warning systems. Satellite imagery and artificial intelligence, as examples, revolutionize the way we predict climate threats and their impact on food and water security and migration patterns to identify potential conflict triggers before they escalate. Communication is key. Mr. President, as this debate shows, there is a strong need for the Council to address the adverse effects of climate change and food insecurity on peace and security. Slovenia stands ready to take part in all such efforts. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank Her Excellency Ms. Štiglic for her statement. I now give the floor to Her Excellency Ms. Alexandra Baumann , State Secretary of Switzerland.

Switzerland:
Mr. President, since the creation of the United Nations, member states have made remarkable progress together. For a long time, conflicts and food insecurity have been on the decline. Unfortunately, we failed to stay the course. Over the past decade, acute food insecurity has massively increased. Despite the targets set by Agenda 2030, almost 800 million people still face chronic hunger. Conflict is the primary cause, as demonstrated by the risk of famine in Gaza and growing food insecurity in Sudan. In other contexts on this Council’s agenda, climate change is a destabilizing factor. To promote and consolidate peace, we need to better understand the interactions between these three dimensions. This debate is therefore very timely. We thank Guyana for bringing us together to discuss this topic. Our thanks also go to the Secretary General, to the Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Mr. Stiell, to the Deputy Director General of the FAO, Ms. Bechdol, as well as Ms. Leiva Roesch, for their statements. Your speeches leave no room for doubt. We need reinforced multilateralism. While the objective that unites us remains the same as it was nearly 80 years ago, the world has changed. Ideas are increasingly interconnected. We must therefore find new ways to consolidate peace. The new agenda for peace points us in the direction of prevention. Thanks to scientific progress, various early warning systems have been developed for food insecurity, conflicts, and climate urgencies. We now need to ensure that they can work together. Indeed, the related challenges call for networked systems that enable dialogue. data to be linked. Only then can we avoid blind spots in prevention and act to ensure long-term food security. Better integration between the various actors is also necessary. We welcome cooperation between the Security Council and the UN system as a whole, as well as with regional organizations such as the African Union, regional economic organizations, local players and science. With this objective in mind, Switzerland recently organized dialogues on the impact of climate change and conflict on food security with all these actors. The new Agenda for Peace also proposes concrete paths for the Council’s action. In order to develop context-specific responses, the Council must take into account the impact of climate change on peace and security. For example, by mandating UN missions to analyze the risks associated with climate change, food security must also be part of the equation. The Council must also serve as a platform for early warning and for mobilizing the efforts of the international community. Of course, conflict, hunger and climate change interact differently in each context. This is clear from discussions held in the informal group of experts on climate and security that we chair with Mozambique, but the result is always the same – more instability and insecurity. We witnessed this trend in the Sahel, Myanmar and in Haiti. To take action against conflict-induced hunger, the Council adopted a clear basis in Resolution 2417. As focal points for hunger and conflict within the Council with Guyana, we are committed to facilitating its implementation. With regard to the security impact of climate change, progress has been made on a case-by-case basis in several resolutions. We support the search for a consensus among Council members so that a strategic framework for coherent and responsible action in the face of climate changes and challenges can be adopted. The tools exist to reinforce prevention. What is needed is the political will to seize them. This is our duty in the face of the triple threat of conflict, hunger and climate change. Given that, and Mr. President, you said this yourself in your statement, that the most vulnerable populations are disproportionately affected, we must do our utmost to ensure that international law is respected. In the face of the suffering caused by the violations of these universal norms, we cannot simply rely on the population’s resilience. I would like to conclude by reminding you that interconnected challenges require integrated responses. By making prevention a political priority, the new agenda for peace can put us on the right track. The summit of the future will be an opportunity for us to embark on this path together. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank Her Excellency, Ms. Alexandra, for her statement. I now give the floor to His Excellency, Mr. Yasushi Hosaka, Parliamentary Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

Japan:
Japan highly recommends your initiative to hold this important meeting. I would also like to thank the briefers for their insightful input. Climate change, food security, and conflict are interlinked in complex ways. Japan clearly recognizes climate change as a security issue that affects the very existence of humankind in the National Security Strategy of Japan in 2022. Japan leads the effort to address climate change in the international community. These challenges are not only critical for SHIP and other vulnerable and developing countries, but also affect international peace and security. Therefore, it is important for this Council to tackle these challenges. The Security Council must work with the determination to leave no one behind towards achievement of work in which human dignity is protected and strengthened by addressing emerging risks such as climate change, food and energy insecurity, and infectious diseases, among others. Mr. President, it is insufficient to tackle each risk separately. We believe that a comprehensive approach, including enhancing the resilience of society, is key to building a sustaining peace. From this perspective, last year, Japan held an open debate at this Council on peacebuilding, stressing the importance of of investing in people to strengthen the resilience of society for sustaining peace. Japan also co-hosted the Area Formula Meeting on Conflict Prevention with Guyana and Mozambique last month. At these meetings, we shared a recognition of the importance of conflict prevention and sustaining peace through a humanitarian development and peace-nexus approach, which necessarily includes the empowerment of women, youth, and vulnerable people. Japan will continue to work vigorously on these issues under our upcoming presidency in March. Mr. President, we must make full use of the functions of the United Nations to better address the issues facing the international community. In particular, the Security Council could make better use of the Peacebuilding Commission PBC. The PBC should continue to broaden its scope to cover matters that can affect conflicts such as those arising from climate change and food insecurity and actively provide recommendations to the Council. Japan, as an informal coordinator between the Security Council and PBC this year, will support no effort to enhance the close collaboration between the two bodies with a view to maintain peace and security, more activity, and sustainability. Mr. President, in May of last year, We issued the Hiroshima Statement for Resilient Global Food Security, together with countries representing various regions around the world. The Hiroshima Statement is a comprehensive guideline for responding to the immediate food security crisis, as well as for establishing a more sustainable and resilient agriculture and food system in the medium and long term. In this connection, we emphasize again that comprehensive approaches would be more effective at halting the increase of risks coming from climate change, as well as to break the vicious cycles that create further risks. From this perspective, Japan continues to support each country’s efforts toward low-emission and climate-resilient development, providing assistance for developing countries in both climate mitigation and adaptation. For instance, Japan has committed to mobilize up to about 70 billion U.S. dollars in climate finance from both public and private sectors over a five-year period through 2025 to support developing countries to combat climate change. We hope our support will contribute to alleviate the impacts of climate change, prevent spillover into food insecurity, and curb the occurrence or deterioration of conflicts. Mr. President, as I mentioned, Japan will assume the presidency of this Council next month. We will continue to actively contribute to the realization of sustainable peace and stability based on the fundamental values of the United Nations. principle that human life and human dignity are of utmost importance. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank His Excellency Mr. Hosaka for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Mozambique.

Mozambique:
Mr. President, Mozambique highly commends Guyana’s presidency for convening this crucial high-level open debate on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security. I have the honor, Mr. President, to convey the warmest greetings of His ExcellencyFilipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of the Republic of Mozambique, to Your Excellency, the President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, and the President of the Security Council. Mr. President, we welcome your participation and leadership in this debate. It bears testimony to the importance Guyana attaches to the topic of climate change as a global challenge to international peace and security. We pay tribute to the excellent presidency of Guyana in steering the difficult agenda of the Security Council during this month of February. We express our gratitude to the Secretary-General for his insightful statement on the topic. We thank the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Mr. Simon Steele. the FAO Deputy Director-General, Ms. Beth Bechdol, and the civil society briefer, Ms. Jimena Leyva-Roche, for their important briefings to the Council. Mr. President, for all we know, climate change exacerbates food insecurity, leading to social disruptions and displacement. As a consequence, the number of people suffering acute food insecurity has risen significantly, emphasizing the interconnectedness of climate conflict and food systems. The interplay between these phenomena presents a series of challenges for maintaining international peace and security. In fact, it is one of the most pressing challenges confronting the global community today. We in Mozambique are witnesses of the disproportionate impact of climate change and food insecurity on our own people. But like Mozambique, the most vulnerable countries of Africa and small island states have been seriously threatened by weather events and disasters. Our countries are facing acute security and development challenges, particularly in food security and cyclical occurrence of extreme events. The natural phenomena affecting them exacerbate tensions and conflicts among communities. with a disproportionate impact on women and children. In this context, Mozambique associates herself with those voices and initiatives as reflected in the Security Council’s Resolutions 2349 of 2017 and 2417 of 2018. They call for the redoubling of our collective efforts towards promoting a greater understanding of the linkages between climate and peace and security. In our view, this is critical in order to foster a common understanding on the need for a better coordination of responses of solutions. We need to change the paradigm of perceptions on the maintenance of international peace and security globally so that our peoples and their rights are respected and protected against conflict-induced situations. Mr. President, the effective combat of climate change effects and the prospect for reduction of food insecurity are critical global challenges. These are issues that need to be addressed collectively with a sense of urgency and responsibility. In this regard, we praise the recent COP28 decision in which the world stressed the importance of seriously addressing climate change by providing financial and technical support to the most vulnerable nations in order for them to respond to adaptation challenges. We therefore believe that cooperation among different United Nations organs, agencies, and programs, including this Council, will strengthen our capacity to address climate change and food insecurity for the noble goal of maintaining international peace and security. Mozambique wishes to emphasize that addressing climate-related security risks requires a holistic approach that ought to take into account inter-alia environmental, economic, social, and political dimensions in an integrated approach. It is a collective responsibility to safeguard peace and security in the face of climate challenges. By recognizing the interconnectedness of these challenges, we can work towards sustainable solutions that promote resilience, equity, and stability on a global scale. We believe all organs of the United Nations are duty-bound to work together towards this shared objective. In the words of the United Nations Charter, this is how we can, and I quote, employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Guyana:
I now give the floor to the representative of the United Kingdom.

Switzerland:
Thank you, President. And thank you for organizing this debate and to our briefers for their briefings, which have underlined the interdependence of climate security and peace. Climate change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss are exacerbating conflict, contributing to global food insecurity and threatening international peace and security. And as Executive Secretary Steele said earlier, the less action that is taken to address climate change, the more conflicts this Council will find on its agenda. And those who are impacted by conflict or facing severe humanitarian needs are often the least resourced to adapt to the climate and environment crises. These linked challenges require a coordinated international response. And I offer three approaches in this regard. First, we take early action to prevent and resolve food security crises. This was a key theme of last year’s Global Food Security Summit, co-hosted by the UK, the UAE and Somalia, where the UK announced its new Resilience and Adaptation Fund to help climate adaptation and increase anticipatory approaches. We should build, too, on the successes of COP28 and increase climate finance to fragile and conflict-affected states. The UK endorsed the Emirates Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilience and Adaptation. food systems and climate action and pledged 126 million dollars to help vulnerable countries tackle climate change, including support for early warning systems and disaster risk finance. Second, we invest in innovation to increase sustainable climate resilient food production. The benefits of scientific advance should be accessible to all, especially to smallholder farmers whose plight the president highlighted earlier. The UK is driving scientific advances in food and agriculture, including through the CGIAR Agricultural Research Organisation and the Gilbert Initiative. Finally, President, we support humanitarian development, peace building and climate actors to take a holistic and integrated approach to resilience, development, security and climate change. As the president said earlier, collectively we should ensure that current and projected We should ensure that current and projected climate impacts are fully integrated into conflict risk assessments, and we should target climate work in fragile and conflict affected countries in a way that addresses the causes of crisis while also ensuring climate finance is conflict sensitive. The UN system, including its cadre of climate security advisors, is well positioned to coordinate climate, food security and peace efforts. This council can support this by encouraging a coherent, integrated response, including within council mandates. President, the number of participants in today’s debate underlines the concern among the UN membership at the threat these interlinked challenges pose to international peace and security. It is incumbent on this Council to respond to those challenges. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of the United Kingdom for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Sierra Leone.

Sierra Leone:
Mr. President, Your Excellency President Mohamed Ifaan Ali, I have the high honor of conveying the highest and warmest sentiment of President Julius Madabio, and to extend congratulations to Guyana on assuming the presidency of the Security Council, but also for your excellent stewardship of the Council in this month. Mr. President, we thank you for organizing this high-level open debate on the impact of climate and food security on the maintenance of international peace and security. Also allow me to thank you for the reflections you have offered in your national capacity. I join Council members in thanking the Secretary-General for his sobering and important briefing, and his leading voice on this important issue. Let me also thank Mr. Simon Stielle, Ms. Beth Bechdol, and Ms. Jimena Leiva-Roesch for their very valuable and informative briefings. Climate change and food insecurity should not only be discussed in terms of environmental and humanitarian context, but also as an emerging threat to international peace and security. Let me highlight in this statement the cross-regional nature of the effects of climate change and food insecurity in Africa to bring out clearly the threat to international peace and security. The scientific evidence is becoming clearer with every passing day. day. Climate change is altering our planet at an alarming rate, leading to rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and disruptions in ecosystems. These changes have far-reaching consequences, and one of the most pressing challenges we face is a threat to food security. As climate-related disruptions intensify, agricultural systems are increasingly susceptible to failure, exacerbating existing problems and creating new hotspots of conflict. The nexus between climate change, food insecurity, and conflict is evident in various regions across the globe. Changing weather patterns disrupt traditional agricultural practices, leading to crop failures, water scarcity, and the displacement of communities. In the face of such challenges, competition for dwindling resources often escalates tensions, heightening the risk of conflict within and between nations. From the Horn of Africa to the Sahel, there is evidence of these links between, on the one hand, the adverse impact of climate change on livelihoods, and on the other hand, increased conflict risk. The most common type of conflict risk linked to the increased livelihood insecurity is among farmers and herders over access to resources, grazing areas, agricultural land, and water, as we have also had from the WHO and FAO. In the Sahel, climate change disproportionately affects 50 million people who depend on agriculture and livestock. This is why livelihood deterioration has increased the risk of farmer-herders’ conflict over diminishing resources. resources in the region. As increasingly frequent droughts and flood compound livelihood insecurity, farmers and herders are now using violence to protect their existing resources or to secure new resources. Factors such as capacities to manage dispute, legitimacy of the rule of law institutions, and availability of small arms all play a role in the scale of related violence. Mr. President, as we have heard, world hunger is an issue of global concern. A combination of factors including famine, effects of armed conflict, climate change, and global inequalities have become leading causes of food insecurity in our world and have driven millions of people to the brink of starvation. This scenario is characterized by unprecedented numbers of people displaced by conflict, catastrophic weather events, and natural disasters. Many people cannot afford enough food due to famine or conflict. It is estimated that about 70% of food insecure countries are also fragile. According to the 2023 Global Report on Food Crisis in West Africa and the Sahel and in parts of Central Africa, the levels of acute insecurity, food insecurity, during the June-August 2023 lean season were projected to be the highest on record. Driven by worsening conflict and insecurity, particularly in the Central Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin areas. Other instances have been characterized by increased economic shocks, including widespread inflation and currency depreciation. Mr. President, in light of the foregoing, Sierra Leoneans of the farm view that the following actions in addition to the addition to others, need to be taken to address climate change and food insecurity in order to maintain international peace and security. Firstly, it is imperative to integrate climate and food security into conflict prevention. This can be done through the conduct of risk assessment to identify regions vulnerable to climate-driven conflict, such as the Sahel. Building dialogue and cooperation between communities competing for resources and support for mediation and conflict resolution efforts in climate-affected regions should also be facilitated. This also involves addressing underlying grievances that can be exacerbated by climate change. Secondly, we need to invest in conflict resolution mechanisms and peacebuilding initiatives, encouraging also regional cooperation and collective action on climate food security. Thirdly, it is necessary to invest in climate-resilient agricultural practices, like drought-resilient crops, water-efficient irrigation, and agroforestry. Additionally, member states should support the establishment of early warning systems for extreme weather events. Furthermore, assistance should be provided to communities to be located away from areas prone to climate disasters. This resonates with the multi-dimensional and whole-of-system approach. In Sierra Leone, we have recognized that sustainable and climate-smart techniques are essential for a resilient food system. In this regard, under the Feed Salon Program, we are promoting agricultural techniques that enrich soil fertility, improve water retention, diversify crop production, and encourage the cultivation of climate-saving crops. resistant crop varieties. The main objectives of the Feed Salon Program is to boost agricultural productivity, to fuel inclusive growth, increase access and availability of locally produced nutrient dense and safe food, reduce our dependency on food imports, reduce hunger, increase export earnings, create jobs, and build a resilient food system. So let me conclude, Mr. President, by noting that the UN Security Council has a crucial role to play in addressing the intertwined threats of climate change, food insecurity, and the impact on international peace and security. The Security Council has adopted products in the past, recognizing the security risk of climate change and food insecurity, and urging action from Member States. This should continue, reflecting changing circumstances, situations. Finally, ECOSOC and the relevant UN funds, programs, and specialized agencies can provide the Security Council with regular briefings to inform the Council’s work on the potential security implications of climate change and food insecurity, drawing on its expertise in sustainable development, humanitarian affairs, and in human rights. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Sierra Leone for his statement. And I’ll give the floor to the representative of France.

France:
Mr. President, I would like to thank you, and I congratulate you for having taken the initiative for this debate on the theme of climate change, food security, and conflict. This is, in point of fact, a key subject to be addressed within the Security Council, and in turn, I would like to thank the briefers, each of them, for their very enlightening briefings. We all know full well that climate change exacerbates volatile contexts, and quite often it is among the deep-rooted and even immediate causes of armed conflict. These conflicts remain the primary cause of food crises, and in turn, they have an impact on the environment, on the loss of biodiversity, and climate change. Out of the 20 countries hardest hit by conflicts in the world, 12 are among the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change, while 10 countries that are most vulnerable most sensitive to risks, nine of them are in a situation of food insecurity. Stability, peace, and security, and food security, as well as climate change, are clearly linked. No one can nor should they ignore this, and that is why it is important for the Council to address this cause and effect link quite seriously. The Council knows this full well. The Russian war of aggression against Ukraine has seriously exacerbated the global food crisis. Russia is attempting to prevent the passage, the arrival of foodstuffs, and is destroying the Ukrainian agricultural systems in its own interest to the detriment of the interests of countries suffering the most from this food crisis. We know full well that we are far from achieving the objective we set in 2009 in GIA Resolution 2-81, calling on the UN to redouble its efforts to address climate change and international peace and security, and to fully implement Resolution 24-17. It is time to stop talking and to turn to action. We must be able better to assess, anticipate, and prevent the impact of climate change on international peace and security, in particular in the area of food security. We must also systematically call on all parties to conflicts, to respect international humanitarian law, and not to use hunger as a weapon of war. Mr. President, I would like to make the following three proposals. Firstly, the Council must be kept briefed in detail on the impact of climate and food crises in the most vulnerable regions. We call on special representatives in particular to give us precise information during their briefings, but also to make recommendations for targeted actions in certain areas, in particular in Africa, where ambitious initiatives are often taking shape, such as the Great Green Wall. Our second point is that our Council must focus more on risk prevention, and we must bolster the management of risk. mandates of UN missions so that they can support the most vulnerable countries in the area of assessing and managing risk and propose concrete actions. Finally, we must continue to support the work of the UN on the ground. The climate peace and security advisors deployed within some UN missions play a very useful role. They assist countries in bolstering their capacity to assess and manage risks, and they work to increase partnerships with local and regional stakeholders. France is working towards that end, in particular with the UN Office in Central Africa, UNOCA. We also encourage the United Nations, in line with TCCs, to pursue the implementation of environmental strategies within peace missions themselves. We call on member states to join the collective effort by acceding to the interagency mechanism climate peace and security of the United Nations. The goal is to integrate climate change across the board in the UN work related to peace and security and to take a field-centered approach. France is also committed to this end quite actively. Mr. President, we must act together and without delay towards that, and we must bolster our collective efforts so that we can implement the Paris Agreement and to meet the challenge of climate change. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of France is carrying out an ambitious climate policy for the development of peace and security and our collective survival. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of France for her statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Russian Federation.

Russian Federation:
Mr. President, today we have an opportunity to discuss how it’s happened that in 2024, in today’s world, in our world, in some countries there are proclamations about the triumph of advanced technology, competition is heating up on GDP indicators, there are discussions about issues related to AI, and in other countries millions of people continue to suffer from the horrific ancient scourge which is reminiscent of the bleakest chapters in the history of mankind, the scourge of hunger. You all are well aware of the Russian position in the absence, on the absence of a direct link between the climate and socioeconomic theme to the mandate of the Security Council, the Security Council whose main mandate is the maintenance of international peace and security. We believe that what would be more productive, most productive, would be to discuss these issues at specialized fora. However, we understand how important these issues are for developing states, for the global south, which is why we stand ready today to discuss from the political lens the root causes, the real root causes of the problems being encountered by the populations in developing countries. However, they need to be discussed not in a generic way, but in a linkage to specific country and regional situations in a manner that takes into account all aspects and root causes of conflict. Our Western colleagues today expatiated at length on climate change, technological patterns, the risk of undermining food supply chains, investments in development, and other trendy themes which at the same time are convenient to the Western narrative. Let’s give us this some thought, however. Fifty, seventy years ago, when there was no discussion yet about climate change, at that time did the population of the global south live any better? Let us – unlike – not at all. At that point, at the dawn of the founding of the United Nations, the developing world, which – was for centuries been looted by the so-called civilized West, was just beginning to free itself from the shackles of colonialism, was full of hope that a new page of history was turning, that there would be no place for exploitation there of its sovereign resources nor political diktat from colonial powers. The Soviet Union, which championed the ideals of socioeconomic justice at that time, made a meaningful contribution to these national liberation movements, which are recalled with gratitude by many regions in the world to this day. Seven decades ago, new member states of the United Nations were promised the right to realize their sovereignty, the right to independently determine their fate, to build their political economic systems in such a way as to ensure that they reflect the interests of their own peoples. The duty of the international community, first and foremost of former colonial powers, was to help new members of the international community to rise up and stand on their feet and to do everything possible to compensate for the damage wrought by centuries of colonial exploitation. Were these hopes, did these hopes become a reality? Unfortunately not. The West did not recognize its historical blame for a century of colonialism and more simply stated oppression of the peoples of Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean Basin. There was no systemic, real policy of restitution carried out for the damage done to their development. The former colonial powers decided to tread a different path, to continue to siphon resources off of their formal colonies, to impose through political pressure and blackmail, which is duplicitously called special bilateral relations, to impose their visions of development paths capitalizing on their financial and technological advantages. Although formerly colonialism is a relic of the past, in fact, its most grotesque manifestations continue to flourish to this day. The discussion about the exploitation of sovereign natural resources by Western transnational companies, the transformation of the territories of developing states into an arena of geopolitical struggle, and once again, a direct military aggression against problematic sovereign countries to destroy their statehood. And this is specifically what we observed in Yugoslavia, Libya, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria. The Anglo-Saxon military coalition is acting like lords in the former mandated territories, forgetting the fact that we are in 2024, not in 1904, and they are dealing with sovereign governments who may have their own views about processes taking place in their regions. President, distinguished colleagues, neo-colonialist practices are the real reason for socioeconomic difficulties which the developing world is encountering. For according to the United Nations, there is technically no acute shortage of food in the world. The problem lies with uneven distribution where in the West, there are surpluses in developing states, there’s a deficit. The second region is something which economists call the price environment. Simply speaking, when the largest agro-industrial producers benefit from maintaining high costs for this and against this backdrop, the West wantonly and duplicitously blamed Russia for the global food crisis. And in doing so, it sweeps under the rug the fact that the major leading Western corporations are the main beneficiaries of the rising food prices. We are talking about the so-called big four, the American Archer Daniels, Midland, Bunge, and Cargill, as well as the Dutch Louis Dreyfus. who account for 75 to 90 percent of global trade in agro-industrial goods. Their subsidiaries in Ukraine, directly or through mediators, possess more than 17 million hectares of the 32 million hectares of Ukrainian arable lands, and capitalizing on the crisis in the country, they have increased the volume of buy-ups of Ukrainian croplands at low prices. According to UNCTAD, on the global food market, for many years, a systemic nexus has been established between major agricultural companies and Western stock dealers who have contrived to provoke price surges. In this way, the food crises are largely speculative in nature. Once again, let us consider the question, why is it that against the backdrop of astronomical profits of Western agro-industrial complex, the threat of hunger is most acutely felt by developing states with growing populations? This is because Western colonizers in the past deliberately cultivated them to extract maximum profit from the colonies and not to ensure that they are capable of feeding their own populations. The overwhelming majority of countries, including African countries, where presently we are observing alarming trends in the area of food security, have sufficient arable lands to establish their own food sovereignty. This is something which was repeatedly referred to by the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Advisor on Africa. Over the past five years, donors allocated nearly four percent of funds for supporting agriculture, although we have heard and will continue to hear about large figures of donor contributions. However, when it comes to results, there have been significant grievances from the recipient states. Western delegations constantly pepper debates with figures about humanitarian assistance that they provide to developing countries. Is this sufficient to compensate for the damage wrought by centuries of brutal colonialist policies, the looting of natural resources, and the exploitation of populations? It is not for us to judge here, but rather for those states that suffered as a result of these policies. But I would like to note that the volumes of the assistance provided by the U.S. and their allies to countries of the Global South pale in comparison to what the West has in less than two years spent on weaponry for the proxy war with Russia to the last Ukrainian. According to the most modest estimates, that is 200 billion euros, and this despite the fact that in 2023, U.N. OCHA has requested from donors $55.2 billion for all humanitarian operations in 2023, and presently only $22.4 billion was allocated. Can you imagine how much more could have been done if the United States and allies were to spend money to facilitate development as readily as they spend money to sponsor wars throughout the world? We wish to draw attention to something else. Despite all of the noble slogans, Western donor assistance has strings attached always and is always contingent on political conditions. A stark example is the blackmail of the Syrian people through humanitarian assistance and harsh unilateral coercive measures, the suspension by Western donors under political pretext of its financing for UNRWA during a horrific humanitarian disaster in Gaza. In this context, we wish to draw attention to yet another threat to global food security. That is the threat of illegitimate unilateral sanctions by Western countries, first and foremost the United States, which cause suffering in states whose leaderships conduct policies that are independent and self-defined. For this reason, this is not to the liking of Washington. American authorities are moving towards adopting a bill under the cynical name the No Russian Agriculture Act in order to decrease reliance of, so-called reliance of third countries on Russian food. This initiative was already introduced at the House of Representatives. If passed, it will remain in effect for five years. This merely bears out the fact that the United States and their satellites have no intention of abandoning their neocolonialist methods. Distinguished colleagues from developing countries, do not be misled, the customs and the methods of the former colonial powers have not changed. Only the packaging here has changed. For each dollar they allegedly spend on assistance, they will demand that you sacrifice your sovereignty and political independence. Many African states have already felt this for themselves in a striking way and they do not wish to tolerate these approaches. Russia never viewed either Africa or Asia or Latin America as an arena for profit generation. Despite all of the obstacles erected by the US and their allies, we helped, we continue to help, and we will continue to help free of charge those in need throughout the world. The Russian Federation has assumed an obligation to allocate financially or in kind, bilaterally, multilateral, through bilateral and multilateral channels. And we are successfully carrying this out through the World Food Program alone. Over the past five years, we provided assistance to 30 states in various parts of the world to the tune of more than $300 million. We have accumulated considerable experience delivering technical assistance to developing countries in the area of building and developing national school meals programs. For more than 13 years, that same World Food Program has been our main international partner in this area. To date, we have implemented a series of such projects to the sum of more than $120 million in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Cambodia. Laos, Sri Lanka, Nicaragua, and in Cuba. From 2017 to the present day, once again, together with the World Food Program, we have been implementing a project of debt for development in Mozambique. The budget is $40 million. Pursuant to a decision of the Russian President during the second Russia-Africa Summit in 2023, free of charge food assistance was provided. This was 200,000 tons of grain that have already been delivered to Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, CAR, and Eritrea. In addition to development assistance, in recent years, Russia has proactively been reinforcing food sovereignty. We have significantly stepped up food exports on the global markets in 2023. This has already resulted in the reduction of the World Food Price Index, which is calculated by the FAO. We, not in word but in deed, have been contributing to mitigating the food crisis. And despite the unprecedented sanctions pressure, we remain a conscientious supplier of grain, proposing to our partners high-quality goods at attractive prices. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Russian Federation for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of China.

China:
Thank you, Mr. President. Let me start by thanking you for coming to the U.N. to present this high-level meeting at the United Nations. I thank Secretary General Guterres, Executive Secretary Stiell, and Deputy Director General Bechdol for their briefings. I’ve also listened carefully to the statement by Ms. Roche. Climate change is a global problem. Ms. Roesch, climate change is a critical issue closely linked to humanity’s survival and development. China supports the international community. in taking robust action to respond to the challenges posed by the climate change. With regard to the link between climate change and security, in recent years, the Council has devoted its attention to this issue on many occasions, and some consensus has emerged. However, what kind of mechanism interplay between these two factors has to be further understood. Some conflicts obviously do not have a direct linkage to climate change. Therefore, each situation should be studied on its own merit and studied to determine the causes of the situation and the points of intervention. At the same time, we are increasingly realizing that more and more extreme weather patterns are bringing big shocks to global food production, with the developing countries bearing the heavy brunt. Such a negative impact should not be overlooked. China calls for targeted action to help the developing countries enhance climate resilience, ensure food security, and break the vicious cycle of climate, hunger, and conflict. First, strengthen global humanitarian assistance. The right to food is a basic human right and should therefore be respected and guaranteed by all countries. At present, some countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America are facing severe food crises and are in urgent need of international assistance. China calls on the developed countries to provide more emergency humanitarian assistance in terms of food and finance to those developing countries in need. It must be emphasized that humanitarian assistance should not be used as a tool for exerting pressure, nor should it be subject to any political conditions in Gaza. Access to humanitarian supplies, including food, which are in severe shortage, still faces mounting hurdles. In Afghanistan, tens of millions of people are suffering from lack of food and clothing in the middle of winter. This tragic reality is not acceptable. We call on the countries concerned to heed the call for justice from the international community and act responsibly to avoid greater humanitarian disasters. Second, take accelerated action to bridge the developmental divide between the north and the south. Currently, global food production is fully sufficient to feed everyone, yet nearly 800 million people go hungry. This is a reflection of the imbalanced and inadequate global development, which can only be fundamentally resolved through common development. The international community should take full advantage of the summit of the future and other opportunities to seriously address the prominent issues faced by the developing countries. The developing countries should not be satisfied with only pronouncing slogans. They should effectively deliver on their ODA and climate financing commitments and eliminate unreasonable agriculture subsidies. We must firmly reject unilateral sanctions and oppose attempts – those neo-imperialistic attempts – of decoupling and breaking up the chain and technology blockades. We must create a fair and favorable international environment for the developing countries to participate in the global market, share the dividends of emerging industries, and upgrade their own industries. Third, improve the global food supply. and agriculture governance system. The entrenched ills such as the pricing power monopoly by big international food dealers and the high degree of financialization of agriculture products have created a turbulence and an imbalance in the global food market. We must remove the blockages and the breakpoints in the food production and supply chain and build a safe and stable, smooth and efficient, open and inclusive, mutually beneficial and win-win system of food production and supply chain. It is necessary to enhance the representation, voice, and decision-making power of the developing countries and to promote a fairer and more equitable international food and agriculture governance. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Agencies and the international financial institutions drew the tilt towards developing countries in terms of the situation analysis, policy recommendations, and assistance coordination so as to enhance the latter’s ability to participate in the global food and agriculture governance. It is necessary to help the developing countries to enhance their agriculture efficiency and their ability to cope with climate change. Mr. President, whether with regard to climate change or maintaining global food security, China attaches great importance to this issue and has taken robust action. With 9 percent of the world’s arable land and 6 percent of its freshwater resources, China produces one-fourth of the world’s food and feeds one-fifth of its population. We have adopted the National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy 2035, which focuses on developing green and climate-smart agriculture while promoting the rural revitalization strategy and the carbon peaking and the carbon neutrality goals. China has put forward the Global Development Initiative and the International Food Security Cooperation Initiative with a view to helping the developing countries improve their capacities in food production, storage, and transportation. the reduction of damage and the loss. Under the South-South Cooperation Framework of the FAO, China ranks first among the developing countries in terms of financial assistance provided, a number of experts dispatched, and a number of projects executed. At the end of last year, more than 130 countries, China included, signed the UAE Declaration on Sustainable Agriculture, Resilient Food System, and Climate Action in Dubai. We can say with confidence that China is a real practitioner actor in this regard. We are ready to work with other countries to implement the outcomes of the COP28 and make a greater contribution to addressing climate change and maintaining food security. Thank you, Mr. President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of China for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of the Republic of Korea.

Korea:
Thank you, Mr. President. The Republic of Korea congratulates Guyana for holding this timely open debate under the presence of His Excellency, Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the President of Guyana. I thank the Secretary General for his remarks and Mr. Simon Stiell, Ms. Beth Bechdol, and Dr. Jimena Roesch for their well-deserved and insightful briefings. The Republic of Korea aligns itself with the statement to be delivered by Nauru on behalf of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security. And in our national capacity, my delegation’s remarks will revolve around the following three questions. First, how do the interlinkages play out between climate change, food insecurity, and peace and security in the situations on the Security Council’s agenda? To start from Asia, in Myanmar, Cyclone Mokha hit conflict-affected and food-insecure areas, including Rakhine State, last May. The devastating impacts of the cyclone on livelihoods and shelters were exacerbated by conflict dynamics, which involved restrictions to humanitarian access. In Afghanistan, continued droughts amplify food and water insecurity and contribute to displacement. Women and girls are left particularly vulnerable due to the Taliban’s violations of human rights and restrictions on aid delivery. Research also shows that prolonged drought and hunger has led to increased gender-based violence in the country. And in South Sudan, UNMIS reports that the El Nino effect is driving acute hunger in some parts of the country. In addition, shifting rainfall patterns have intensified farmer-herder conflicts. These are only a few examples, and it is clear that these dynamics deserve the thorough deliberations of the Security Council. Second, how can the Council better coordinate with other mechanisms in and out of the United Nations? Solutions require a long-term approach and partnership. We need early warning systems that incorporate climate, environmental data, and socioeconomic factors related to food systems and conflict. We also need climate-sensitive peacemaking efforts as well as conflict-sensitive adaptation. In this regard, the Peacebuilding Commission has great potential. We encourage the PBC to convene climate-focused country or region-specific meetings with the participation of UN missions and agencies, UN climate security mechanism, and multilateral development banks. This will be relevant, in particular, for countries and regions being discussed both in the Council and the PBC, or those planning transitions along the peace continuum. By sharing respective analysis and best practices on addressing climate-food-peace linkages in that specific context, agencies could streamline and complement activities, while funding mechanisms could identify needs for resources. Meetings could sometimes take the format of PBC-ECOSOC joint meetings, and the results could be sent to the Security Council as PBC’s advice. Third, what support can the wider UN membership provide in this context? Building local-level resilience in vulnerable areas is not only effective, but also a cost-efficient way towards both conflict prevention and peacebuilding. In this connection, I’d like to introduce the K-Rise Belt Initiative. initiative announced by my President Yoon Sung-Yeol at the G7 Summit last year. This innovative project currently aims to assist the 10 sub-Saharan African countries in localizing and improving rice production capacity by sharing high-yield rice varieties and agricultural technology. My delegation also recalls the unique and existential threats that low-lying coastal communities and small island states currently face. Indeed, sea level rise and its impacts, such as soil erosion, salinization, and land loss will destroy agricultural livelihoods and may even cause mass displacement. The Republic of Korea continues to actively join efforts in addressing this urgent challenge as a champion country of the Coalition on Addressing Sea Level Rise and its Existential Threats, CSET for short, and as a proud sponsor of the Rising Nations Initiative for Pacific Atoll Countries. Mr. President, the ROK announced climate, peace, and security as one of its guiding priorities during its Council term. This is in line with ROK’s ongoing efforts to strengthen partnership with Global South in their transition to clean energy and climate change adaptation, including by scaling up our Green ODA. As a new pledger of the joint pledges on climate, peace, and security, we hereby reaffirm our commitment to advance this agenda in the Council and, more importantly, translate it into actual results on the ground. I thank you, Mr. President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of the Republic of Korea for his statement. I now give the floor to the representative of Malta.

Malta:
President, Malta thanks Guyana for organizing today’s timely debate and for placing the spotlight on the nexus between climate change and food insecurity. We also thank the briefers for their insights. Malta also aligns itself with the statement to be delivered later today by Nauru on behalf of the Group of Friends of Climate and Security. As a threat multiplier, climate change has increased resource-based conflicts in several parts of the world, exacerbating instability and challenging resilience amongst vulnerable populations. Evidence shows that persons living in conflict-afflicted areas face or are at risk of facing acute food and water insecurity or starvation. Women and girls currently account for 70 percent of the world’s hungry, with the climate crisis further deepening pre-existing gender inequalities. Seventy-five percent of all stunted children under the age of five live in countries affected by armed conflict. These figures speak for themselves. Placing the link between agriculture and food systems and climate change’s impact on this link is central to today’s discussion. Climate-related impacts jeopardize agri-food systems and water resources, which in turn fuel competition over limited availability of natural resources, driving population mobility and displacement. When coupled with a vicious cycle of rising temperatures, floods, droughts and floods, and other extreme weather events, the reality becomes devastating and is felt across the globe in various ways. Rising ocean temperatures and sea levels are impacting livelihoods in small island developing states in the Caribbean and the Pacific. The El Nino driven through the Horn of Africa has been ravaging millions of populations and their livelihoods with severe water shortages and dry pastures. The ongoing conflict in Sudan has left almost 18 million people facing acute hunger, 10 million more than last year. The situation has been further exacerbated by compromised food production. Food insecurity in the Sahel has tripled, leading to the fastest growing displacement crisis. We therefore require a holistic and integrated approach within the UN system, including at the Security Council. We recall, amongst other initiatives, the Council’s unanimous recognition through Resolution 2417 of the need to break the vicious cycle between armed conflict and food insecurity, as well as the unlawful denial of humanitarian access. We also thank humanitarian workers for their tireless efforts. Their selfless actions deserve our full respect and recognition. President, Malta’s commitment remains steadfast in addressing these challenges. As initiators of the joint pledges on climate, peace and security, Malta reiterates its call for synergies to be met with concrete solutions, with a focus on strengthening early warning, anticipatory action and climate-resilient agriculture and food systems. We support the work of climate, peace and security advisors engaged with select UN peacekeeping missions and special political missions, whose role remains crucial in identifying climate-related impacts on the ground. In all our actions, we must involve local actors. These include women, human rights and environmental defenders. We encourage that climate financing also reaches grassroots women’s organizations that are leading local adaptation and mitigation efforts. Traditional and religious leaders also have an important role to play in ensuring cooperation. To conclude, President, we remain firm in our belief that we must seek to immediately respond to the root causes of food insecurity. These include breaking the cycle of conflict and addressing climate change. The Council has a responsibility to bear. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Malta for her statement. I give the floor to the representative of Ecuador.

Ecuador:
Gracias. Thank you, Mr. President. I’d like to begin my statement by welcoming you here in this forum. This has shed greater light by the international community on the work of the Security Council. And we’d like to thank your country for holding this open debate, addressing a theme of concern to the entire international community. I would also like to thank the briefers for their valuable interventions. Ecuador endorses the statement to be made by Ireland on behalf of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, which we are honored to co-chair. Conflicts reduce agricultural productivity. They destroy infrastructure and they change agri-food markets by disrupting logistical supply chains. It is vital for us to focus on this theme because there are more than 250 million people suffering from acute hunger, belonging to one-third of the members of these organizations. And out of that number, the majority are in situations of conflict and armed violence. Mr. President, the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2417 in 2018 gave this Council one of the most valuable tools for early warning and response. In conflict situations, the adverse impact of climate change and food insecurity exacerbate migration and force displacement. In this context, humanitarian aid cannot wait. This Council must ensure compliance with Resolution 2573 on the protection of essential goods co-sponsored by my country in 2021. We condemn any practice to starve a population and the use of this practice as a tactic of war. In our region, we can see the devastating impact of the worsening security situation and its impact on the food crisis, for example, in Haiti. For that reason, in July of 2023, in Resolution 2692, this Council urged all parties, including those with the capacity to influence the armed groups, to take measures to put an end to the blocking of food access. and the damaging of sources of supply. Currently, the impact of conflicts on food security has been worsened by the climate crisis. This is a threat multiplier, as it endangers the security of agri-food systems, means of livelihood, and water resources. Mr. President, Ecuador supports the Secretary General’s initiatives, such as the system of Early Warning for All and the Accelerated Channel for Climate Change Adaptation, designed for the most vulnerable countries, and we also welcome the activities of the World Food Program. Similarly, access to financing is a priority. Robust climate action for developing countries will only be possible with the provision of climate financing coming from developed countries, in accordance with the principle of shared but differentiated responsibilities. We must operationalize the Loss and Damage Fund by providing you additional and predictable funding. Additionally, as we work with existing tools, such as the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Commission, the mandates of peace missions must include data on weather phenomena, which can put the food security of peoples at risk, and we must identify possible hotbeds of violence. This must be work done together with the country offices and UN programs such as the UNDP and the FAO, so that implementing Agenda 2030 for the SDGs and its 17 goals will go hand-in-hand with peacebuilding. Finally, Mr. President, we must recognize that we live in a world of conflicts of different natures, and therefore, guaranteeing respect for international humanitarian law is essential to prevent the natural breakdown of the system and food insecurity in conflict situations. The warring parties must conduct hostilities respecting the provisions of international humanitarian law on the protection of the environment. This is directly related to food security, including the contamination of or loss of access to arable land and water resources. Against this backdrop, drop, our challenge is to renew the collective security system with proposals to reduce threats and address challenges and put prevention at the heart of our strategy. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Ecuador for his statement. On behalf of the Council, I should like to welcome His Excellency Mr. Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, President of the Dominican Republic, and I give him the floor.

Dominican Republic:
Thank you very much, Excellency Mr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, President of Guyana, and for Guyana presiding over the Council for this month. Greetings to Council members and to the briefers. We welcome the holding of this crucial debate and the valuable contribution of today’s briefers. During our mandate in this Council, the Dominican Republic advocated for comprehensive review of all threats to global peace and security, including climate change and food insecurity. In 2020, we spearheaded the adoption of a presidential statement, which is a watershed moment in addressing food security, underscoring the importance of early warning systems. We make every effort to protect our food production from climate challenges and crises which threaten the global supply and our agro-industry. Our official policy, which is underpinned by our law 589-16, created a national system for food and nutrition sovereignty and security. Along with President Ali, my government has promoted a strategic partnership with Guyana, which seeks to guarantee autonomy for our countries in strategic areas for food and energy. We are aware of the fact that the global development is aimed at sufficiently satisfying the food and nutritional needs of peoples. This is something no country can do in isolation. And therefore, the Dominican Republic sees as essential the holding of the Fourth Conference on Small Island Developing States to be held in Antigua and Barbuda in May. We take this opportunity to thank our friend, Prime Minister Gaston Brown, for holding that meeting. This is an opportunity to call on those responsible for climate change to act urgently to address the crisis and to strengthen food security worldwide. In fact, Mr. President, according to a scientific research recently published in the technical magazine Science Advances, the system regulating temperatures of currents in the Atlantic Ocean are now reaching a devastating tipping point. point due to the melting of glaciers and ice caps in the Arctic faster than expected. This means that the sea level in the Atlantic will rise a meter in some regions, flooding many coastal cities, as has already happened in our insular Caribbean. Climate vulnerabilities and the shortage of food increase the risk of violence, particularly where there is poverty, hunger, and inequality. The use of hunger as a weapon of war and to bring a people to its knees is alarming and unjustifiably, regrettably, this atrocious practice is on the rise every year on the Earth. And this Council has debated sufficiently what the robust response should be to this crime-threatening global stability, but we must intensify our action. Mr. President, according to the Global Report on Food Crisis 2023, some 258 million people in 2022 were facing acute levels of hunger in 58 countries or territories, and far too many people are on the brink of starvation. Over the past seven years, people living with hunger increased 146 percent. It will therefore be very difficult for us to meet goal number two of Agenda 2030, namely zero hunger. One of these countries is Haiti, and the Dominican Republic shares that – our island – with this country. According to the World Food Program, almost half of the population of this neighboring country – I’m referring to 5 million people today – are suffering from acute food insecurity. To a great extent, this situation is due to two factors. factors. Firstly, the escalation of violence created by criminal gangs controlling the vast majority of Haiti and who deliberately block access to humanitarian aid. And two, to the persistent impact of climate phenomena which cannot be duly addressed or prevented by the authorities of this country because of the terrorist violence they face and because of institutional breakdown. In Council Resolutions 2645, 2653, 2692, 2699 and 2700, this Council has approved the multinational security support mission in Haiti, an embargo on weapons and munitions and a sanctions regime to deal with the so-called bad actors in the domestic conflict. However, we have not acted forcefully and urgently enough to deploy this mission or to give that mission the robustness that the sanctions regime requires. The international community must not allow this catastrophe suffered by the Haitian people to go on one day more. Mr. President, adopting preventative, wise and timely actions to conflicts is essential. We need tools, data, analysis and joint action to address food insecurity exacerbated by climate change and serious domestic conflicts. The active commitment of the Secretary-General of member states, specialized agencies, humanitarian NGOs and affected communities is key in making progress on this front. I would ask the Security Council to redouble its efforts to create these tools and to set up an early warning system so that we can act in time before situations become crises which are even more difficult to resolve. President Ali, distinguished members of the Security Council. I conclude by reaffirming the Dominican Republic’s commitment to ensure stable food security, appropriate management of climate change, and lasting peace throughout the world. Thank you for your kind attention.

President – Guyana:
I now give the floor to Giorgos Gerapetritis, His Excellency Mr. Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece.

Greece:
Mr. President, dear members of the Council, I would like first of all to thank the Permanent Mission of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana to the United Nations for the invitation to participate in today’s debate, as well as the briefers for their stimulating remarks. Ladies and gentlemen, in the contemporary world, there is not a single challenge that does not interact with others. Climate crisis threatens food security, and they jointly threaten stability and social cohesion. And there is not a single challenge that applies merely to a country or a region. The collapse of the grain initiative in Ukraine threatens the grain chain altogether, and the fast ice melting on the Antarctic affects the globe. And this, while more than 600 million people worldwide are projected to face hunger in 2030. The Mediterranean Sea, the crossroad of three continents, is an illustrative example of interaction and spillover of such phenomena. The annual temperature of the sea is 1.54 Celsius higher than pre-1990 levels, and about 0.5. Celsius more than the global average warming. Temperature increase has caused serious environmental damage. The Mediterranean basin has become in the last year the hot spot of the climate crisis with extensive wildfires and catastrophic floods. Further, the rise of the sea level endangers the quantity and quality of fisheries and fish stocks and in turn people’s lives and health. Mitigating global warming, advancing sustainable tourism and green shipping and reducing microplastic pollution will be in the agenda of the 9th Our Ocean conference that we’ll be hosting in Athens on the 16th and the 17th of next April. The conference will be the bridge between COP28 and the UN conference on oceans next year aspiring to produce tangible milestones and credible commitments. In the same vein, Greece will take the initiative of a nexus between climate, peace and security setting it as a priority of its candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2025-2026. However, no conference or a single state intervention may bring astonishing results. This is equivalent to Sisyphus eternally and repeatedly rolling a heavy rock up a hill. The complexity and extraterritoriality of the challenges call for collective reaction of governments and peoples of the world with a view to the future. What we need is a different mindset when it comes to environmental protection and food security. Such a cross-cutting policy is WHO’s One Health project. an integrated, unifying approach to balance and optimize holistically the health of people, animals, and the environment. We need this type of new vision of global solidarity and intergenerational sustainability through ethical and rule-based global governance and fair burden-sharing among the states. This is why we call for a universal alliance for sustainability, and we endorse the proposal for the appointment of a UN Special Envoy for a Sustainable Future. We owe it to the future generations from whom we have admittedly detached a significant portion of their natural dividends. After all, we must not forget we are not owners, but merely caretakers on Earth. Thank you so much.

Thailand:
I wish to congratulate Guyana for assuming the presidency of the UN Security Council for this month of February. I also wish to thank Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and all the briefers for their valuable insights and recommendations. Mr. President, despite decades of progress in development, our sense of safety and security remains low. The UNDP’s 2022 Special Report, New Threats to Human Security in the Anthropocene, explains such a development paradox that we are all facing. From the pandemic, inequalities, and rising geopolitical tensions to devastating climate-related weather events and food insecurity, these challenges have reversed decades of development gains. I concur with the report’s recommendations that addressing these threats would require policymakers to consider protection, empowerment, and solidarity alongside one another so that human security, planetary considerations, and human development all work together. Without sustainable development, a sustainable planet and human rights, peace and security will be out of reach. That is why this open debate focusing on climate change, food insecurity, and peace is so timely. As policymakers, what can we do? I wish to offer the following three points. First, we should ensure that our institutions, policies, and priorities match the people’s needs and expectations. People expect to be protected from violent conflict, adverse impacts of climate change, and food insecurity. People also expect to be empowered with basic human rights, be they health care or education, so that they can attain better living standards. Therefore, a people-centered approach should be at the core of our efforts in all aspects to ensure human development and human security for the peoples. If peace and security is to be sustained, the Security Council should have human security as part of its deliberations. With human security as our goal, there can be a stronger integrated response within the UN to our present-day challenges. Strengthened coordination between the Security Council and other relevant UN bodies, especially ECOSOC, is vital. Second, climate change is the defining crisis of our time and will continue to affect our lives in multiple dimensions. Climate change is a threat multiplier, respects no borders, and poses an urgent and serious threat to all of us, especially to LDCs and SIDs. So our approach should also be planet-centric. We must work together to address this crisis under the UNFCCC. The UNFCCC, together with its Paris Agreement, remains the cornerstone of global climate governance and should be upheld. However, developing countries need support to enhance their capacity to adapt and become more resilient to adverse impacts of climate change. Thailand reiterates the call for developing countries, echoed by the UN Secretary General at the Third South Summit, for existing financial commitments to be met by developed countries to deliver $100 billion US annually and to double adaptation finance. This is not only an investment in the future of the planet, but also in human security and in peace stability of states and societies. Third, global challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, and conflicts are interconnected. They require systematic and integrated consideration to address solutions for the people and the planet. People-centered and people-centric approaches should be the way forward for a sustainable and peaceful future. Our efforts to overcome today’s global challenges, as well as new threats to the future, require global solidarity, commitment, and partnership. Multilateralism and international cooperation are the most viable solutions to addressing such challenges. In this light, we look forward to the summit of the future as an opportunity to reinvigorate the multilateral system with the UN at its core. And to renew our vision for peace, we should be a comprehensive one, taking into account sustainable development and human rights. As a candidate for the UN Human Rights Council for the term 2025 to 2027, Thailand hopes to make the work of the UN. HRC more impactful, especially for individuals on the ground, many of whom are in conflict situation. It is our belief that UN organs and mechanisms need to work to complement each other in light of the multifaceted challenges we are facing. Thank you, Mr. President.

Norway:
Thank you, President. I have the honor to speak on behalf of the eight Nordic and Baltic countries, namely Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, in addition to my own country of Norway. I would like to start by thanking the Co-operative Republic of Guyana for organizing this very timely debate. We agree with several of the previous speakers that food security has become a global and national security issue, exacerbated by climate change, conflict, and economic turndown. These common challenges can only be addressed by dedicated multilateral action. That is what makes this such a highly relevant topic for the Security Council’s agenda. The intertwined crises of climate change, conflict, and food insecurity are unfolding at a time of increasing instability and growing geopolitical tensions. Climate change and conflicts are both in many ways causing food insecurity, for example by destroying livelihoods, by increasing scarcity of resources, and by disrupting supply chains. Many countries and regions that are the most vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change are also those that are suffering from conflicts and instability, and hence facing increased risks of food insecurity. Among the most severely affected are often women and girls. President, in ongoing conflicts, food is being used as a weapon. Recalling Security Council Resolution 2417, there is a clear obligation not to attack civilians or civilian objects necessary for food production. The obligation to facilitate full, safe, and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need must always be respected. Upholding peace and security is the main responsibility of the Security Council, and for the Nordic and Baltic countries, it’s clear that conflict prevention should be front and center of these efforts. That means that all countries need to redouble our efforts to tackle climate change and prevent and resolve conflicts in order to decrease risks of food insecurity. So let me emphasize what we consider now the six most important among preventive measures to fight hunger. First, taking action to prevent conflict related to climate change and food insecurity, which can be done by mitigation and adaptation, as well as strengthening early warning and early action, as well as by risk reduction. We need to generate sophisticated data and analysis. And so we support the Secretary General’s call for early warnings for all and universal access to climate information systems. Second, climate robust agricultural development among small scale food producers must be scaled up. Local food sector value chains and markets must be strengthened. The effects will be increased food security in the poorest rural areas, new jobs, more stability and reduced forced migration. Third, climate finance to develop sustainable agriculture must be increased. Fourth, healthy soil is a prerequisite to fight hunger and strengthen national and global security. And seeds and fertilizer needs to reach the small scale farmers. And so we welcome the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit to take place in Nairobi in May. Fifth, empowerment of women crucial to fostering food security. Women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in all peace building efforts, as well as in climate mitigation and resilience building, is an essential part of comprehensive security efforts. And sixth, we need to integrate our humanitarian assistance and our long-term development assistance much better to stop negative trends on hunger and poverty. Finally, we welcome Brazil’s global leadership as the G20 chair and the important initiative to establish a global alliance against hunger and poverty. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
There are still a number of speakers remaining on my list for this meeting. I intend, with the concurrence of the members of the Council, to suspend the meeting until 3 p.m. This meeting is now suspended. The 9547th meeting of the Security Council is resumed. I wish to remind all speakers to limit their statements to no more than four minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its work expeditiously. Flashing lights on the collars of the microphones will prompt speakers to bring their remarks to a close after four minutes. I now give the floor to the representative of Palau.

Palau:
Madam President, I’d like to begin by congratulating you on the assumption of the Security Council presidency and to thank Liana for convening this open debate on maintenance of international peace and security, the impact of climate change, and food insecurity. Palau lines itself with the statements made by Tonga on behalf of the Pacific Islands Forum and Vanuatu on behalf of the PCIDs. Like in many island nations, climate change has profoundly and disproportionately impacted Palau. Rising sea levels have flooded our coastal towns and villages, causing displacement, and have intruded our water tables, threatening our water security and our ability to water crops. Prolonged droughts, frequent floods, and severe typhoons are now a regular occurrence in our islands and leave catastrophic damage in their wake. And warming waters have bleached our coral reefs, threatening the economic drivers of our tourism-based industry, but also the environment to which we drive much of our local food supply. Every single aspect I’ve mentioned has a multiplier effect in the fact that it threatens our food security. Madam President, allow me to start with the storms. In 2021, Palau, which historically sits outside of the Pacific Typhoon Belt, was hit by Typhoon Sergei. Sergei damaged 20 percent of our homes and destroyed major infrastructure including our aquaculture facilities. It ravaged large and small farms alike and destroyed millions of dollars in crops and wreaked significant havoc on our reefs and our corals. Generations have thrived on these sustainable fishing and farming practices but now these ecosystems are being uprooted by storms with legacies and lives regularly and incessantly scattered by these winds. With sea level rise, saltwater intrusion into our freshwater aquifers reduces the availability of fresh water not only for drinking but also for our agriculture and irrigation. In Palau we eat a root crop grown in the wetlands called taro. It’s a staple food heavily linked to our cultural practices and traditions. Sea level rise and saltwater intrusion is now threatening our ability to grow such crops. The gradual encroachment of the ocean upon our lands imperils the cultivation of staple crops like taro severing the bonds that tie us to our ancestral traditions. As we witness the ocean temperatures increase we are confronted with the alarming degradation and bleaching of our coral reefs often referred to as the rainforests of the sea. These ecosystems are essential supporting an incredible diversity of marine life that forms the backbone of our fishing industry, a primary source of food and an economic lifeblood for small island nations. The loss of coral reefs not only signifies a loss of biodiversity but also destabilizes fish populations and the marine food chain directly undermining food security and livelihoods. Additionally Madam President, warming ocean waters decreases oxygen levels in the ocean which is vital for marine life. This environmental stressor forces key fish populations crucial for our sustenance like tuna to migrate in search of cooler waters. The migration disrupts traditional fishing practices and threatens our food supplies. A study from Stanford University on the Plough National Marine Sanctuary forecast a tragic future if we assume the status quo, a 40% decline in the biomass of skipjack and yellowfin tuna by 2100 if the current trajectory of global warming is not altered. This will challenge our ability to feed our people and the people of the Pacific who consume four times more fish per capita on a per capita basis than other regions. Moreover, ocean acidification, a direct result of increased CO2 levels in the ocean, further endangers marine life by impairing the ability of shell-forming species such as clams and crabs to construct their shells. This emerging threat has the potential to radically transform marine ecosystems and the food webs they support. Madam President, few of us can deny that there can be little peace when confronted by incessant and unrelenting pangs of hunger. This is the risk to peace and security we face in our delayed recognition of climate change as a destabilizing force in peace and security. It’s incumbent upon this august body to heed the clarion call of urgency and to chart a course towards a future where peace and security are not mere illusions but tangible realities. Palau reiterates our call for a special representative of the Secretary General on Climate Change and Security who would inform the future work of the Council and the Assembly. We also urge this body to continue to focus on the disproportionate impact that climate change and food insecurity have on small island developing states like Palau and we invite the Council to visit us to learn more about them firsthand. Thank you again Madam President for convening this open debate. We call on the Council to fully recognize the breadth and depth of devastation wrought by climate change. It’s imperative that this Council, in concert with the international community, moves beyond recognition to mobilize a coordinated and comprehensive response to this defining challenge of our time. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Palau for her statement and I now give the floor to Ms.Laetitia Courtois, Permanent Observer and Head of the Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations.

International Committee of the Red Cross:
Madam President, Excellencies, the International Committee of the Red Cross welcomes today’s important debate on the impact of climate change and food security on the maintenance of peace and security. Climate change affects everyone, but not equally. As we have heard from the briefers yesterday, climate change worsens vulnerabilities, deepens inequalities, and can exacerbate factors that can contribute to tensions. In many places where the ICRC works, climate extremes are compounding the impact of armed conflicts on agricultural production and are increasing food insecurity. Beyond the direct impact of climate hazards on farming activities, climate extremes may also intensify competition for scarce resources. This happens against the backdrop of very limited adaptive capacities as people, systems and institutions struggle to survive the devastation of war. Climate change, food insecurity and conflict are thus mutually reinforcing. For now, climate action in conflict settings is particularly weak because of the challenges attached to enabling comprehensive climate adaptation in unstable environments. This needs to urgently change if we are to collectively live up to the commitment to leave no one behind. Our call today is clear. A better respect for international humanitarian law in armed conflicts will reduce the cost of war. It will help people cope with the calamities of war while sparing the natural environment in today’s dramatically destructive conflicts. More specifically, we need to see an urgent shift in how wars are fought so that, first, damage inflicted to the environment is reduced. People depend on the environment and predictable weather for food and water. Farmers, herders and fishing communities depend on it for their livelihoods. When the environment is damaged in war and food and economic insecurity intensify, physical and mental health deteriorate as well. IHL contains a wide range of obligations that set legal limits on the damage that warring parties can inflict on the environment. Ensuring respect for this IHL rule can limit environmental degradation and thus respect and reduce the harmful consequences it can generate, including food insecurity. In the face of a triple planetary crisis, this is particularly critical. Second, food provision and access to essential resources are guaranteed throughout conflict. While parties have the primary responsibility to ensure that civilians’ basic needs are met, IHL requires them to permit and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief. IHL prohibits attacking or destroying civilian objects such as marketplaces, civilian transport and financial infrastructures and land. It gives specific heightened protection for objects indispensable to civilian survival, including crops, livestock and drinking water installations. IHL furthermore strictly prohibits starvation of civilians as a method of warfare. These are only a few examples of the wide range of IHL rules relevant to food security in situations of armed conflict. Thirdly, everything must be done to prevent the situation from spiralling into an extreme food crisis. By mid-2023, over 110 million people remain displaced, which is more than any other time since World War II. For most, access to the basics remains a daily fight, and many are struggling to provide for their entire families as their forced displacement barely offers safety, let alone food security. Food pipelines are too often targeted or used for military trade-offs, forcing civilians on the move into unsustainable and desperate situations. Even after the guns go silent, impacted regions struggle to recover from the devastating legacies of wars. In many places, rebuilding livelihoods are hampered by unexploded ordnance, crippled economies and repeated climate hardships. Madam President, Throughout the countries where we work, there is no shortage of resolve to find ways to cope with the changing climate and its compounding consequences. But without decisive support from the international community and strong compliance with international humanitarian law, things will only get worse and existing vulnerabilities and crises will multiply. We must ensure that this is not the case and that those most at risk remain our urgent priority. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank Ms. Courtois for her statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Vietnam.

Viet Nam:
Madam President, I thank Guyana for convening this open debate, and appreciate the Secretary-General and the briefers for their valuable insights on this important topic. Madam President, food insecurity is both a root cause and a consequence of conflict. It is no coincidence that hunger hotspots, as FAO and WFP pointed out, are mostly in countries and regions that are prone to violence and armed conflicts. It is also evident that climate change has become a risk multiplier to both food security and international peace. It can destabilize nations, ignite dispute over scarce resources, exacerbate existing conflicts, and even contribute to the conditions conducive to terrorism. It is my conviction that the Security Council should and could do more to break the vicious cycle of climate change, food insecurity, and conflict. First, the Council needs to play a more effective role in preventing violence and build peace in conflict-affected areas, thereby reducing the risk of conflict-induced food insecurity and vulnerability to climate change. It should take a more holistic approach to address the root causes of conflicts, with greater balance in handling traditional and non-traditional security threats. Climate risk analysis should continue to be integrated in the mandate of peacekeeping and special political missions, many of which are operating in the areas affected by climate change. Second, the Council needs to strengthen collaboration with relevant UN bodies and key international instruments that address as climate change and food insecurity, including FAO, WFP, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the Paris Agreement, among others, especially to foster climate resilient and accessible food systems and secure the global food supply chains. It is also imperative for the Council to work in harmony with regional and national initiatives in this regard. Through this practice, the Council, as well as the peacekeeping and special political missions, will be more informed and better equipped to identify and address security risks related to climate change and food insecurity in different regions and circumstances. Third, the UN Charter and international law, especially humanitarian law, must be upheld in all conflicts. All parties must refrain from attacks on and destructions of climate resilient infrastructure and objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, including water and food supply facilities, as stipulated in the Security Council Resolutions 2417 and 2573. Civilians, especially women and children, must not be deprived of access to humanitarian assistance and means to enhance climate resilience. Madam President, being among the country’s most vulnerable to climate change and sea level rise, and having gone through decades of wars and transformation, from a hunger-stricken country to one of the world’s largest food producers and exporters, Vietnam understands firsthand the correlation between climate change, food security, and international peace and security. We, therefore, are committed to engaging constructively and contributing actively to the global efforts for the maintenance of international peace and security through addressing climate change and food insecurity. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
Thank you, Representative of Vietnam, for his statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

Bolivia:
Thank you very much, President. The Plurinational State of Bolivia would like to congratulate Guyana on assuming the presidency of the Security Council of the United Nations. And we thank you for convening this debate on the climate crisis and food insecurity and its relationship with the maintenance of international peace and security. Madam President, the climate crisis is exacerbating food insecurity worldwide, creating new problems for peace and security in various countries and regions. Extreme meteorological events and those that develop slowly, changes in the temperature, affecting growing seasons, scarcity of water. rising sea levels, amongst other things, are directly affecting the production of food, which is having an impact on food security and potentially leading to socio-ecological conflicts over land and resources, especially in areas that are already experiencing political instability or ethnic cultural tensions. In the light of this reality, there’s the temptation to use the methods, tools, and actors of security in order to address climate change, which we feel would be a tremendous mistake. Climate action should not be contaminated by geopolitical disputes. President, excellences, the Security Council must assume its responsibilities respecting the specific mandates that relate to climate change and food insecurity, as well as their interrelationship. Moving forward, we would urge the Security Council to take into account the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, including the Paris Agreement, adopted to improve its implementation. Likewise, it should take into account its goal and all of its principles, and in particular, that of equity and common but differentiated responsibilities. With regard to specific measures to avoid the worst effects of the climate crisis, Bolivia once again reaffirms that international peace and security will only be possible with social justice, as well as climate justice. We need to resolve the structural causes of the systemic crisis, adjusting the planned funding with the needs of developing countries. In order to achieve this, the trillions of dollars that are dedicated to producing arms and for military expenditure should be redirected to restoring harmony with Mother Earth. In proportion with historic and current responsibilities. Madam President, the chain of. that exists between climate change, food insecurity, and disturbances to international peace and security means that we must improve our collective action as well as international cooperation in order to mitigate climate change, to increase resilience, as well as the capacity to adapt and to address the root causes of conflicts and instability. If we don’t do this, then we run the risk of exacerbating existing tensions and creating new challenges for global peace and security. Finally, Madam President, strengthening multilateralism must continue to be one of our priorities since global problems will only be resolved collectively, and that is why member states should continue to work together in order to address climate change and food insecurity. We must continue to work tirelessly in order to keep alive the hopes of our peoples. Thank you very much, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of the plurinational state of Bolivia, and I now give the floor to the representative of Panama.

Panama:
Gracias. Thank you, Madam President. The promise that the founding members of this organization made in 1945 was to commit to preserving future generations from the scourge of war. That should not only be reiterated time and again, but also it should lead to ever more robust and effective actions in order to move towards a future where peace is not just an aspiration, but instead it is a reality rooted in the very essence of humanity. This year, we are organizing and dedicating efforts to prepare documents to translate the commitment of current generations to future generations, as well as the predictions that we have for their future, which, to our way of thinking, is looking rather uncertain unless we adopt timely and urgent action in order to counteract the irreversible consequences of climate change globally. Madam President, Panama recognizes that climate change is not a distant threat. It is a present reality which affects all aspects of human life and the very existence of our planet. For these reasons, it’s imperative that we meet international commitments that have been acquired with regard to the reduction of global greenhouse gases that affect biodiversity and ecosystems and brings about extreme climate events which are having numerous effects, amongst them the effect on food security, food production. As was pointed out by the IPCC, the increase in temperatures and the changing patterns of precipitation and extreme climate events that are becoming more frequent are affecting food security globally, and it is the vulnerable populations that are facing the worst risks of hunger, malnutrition, and loss of life. The effects on agriculture, on water resources, on the means of subsistence brought about by climate change are weakening the socioeconomic situation of the population, and in those regions where a scarcity of resources is already a reality, climate change is increasing those vulnerabilities and contributing to instability by increasing the risks of conflicts of all kinds. As a global community, we must give priority to measures of adaptation and strengthening of resilience in order to mitigate their effects and avoid these things becoming a source of conflict. A multidimensional approach which recognizes the need to strengthen links and synergies between science, technology, innovation, and agricultural systems is essential. An approach that will lead to sustainable agricultural practices, infrastructure that is resilient to the climate, and guarantee fair access to resources. resources. Current events in the international arena constitute a convincing testimony of the need to strengthen the efficiency and the ability to act of the Council so that it can face up to its responsibility to safeguard international peace and security, but also that it’s able to address emerging risks, which traditionally have been considered to be the competence of other bodies, despite generating and making worse conflict situations such as climate change and food insecurity. In the light of the subject that we are discussing today, Panama believes that we need to look at the intersection of climate change, food security and international peace and security, and in order to do that, the Council could consider the following. One, provide more support to adaptation initiatives and strengthen resilience in regions that are susceptible to be affected by conflicts that are the effect of climate change, in close cooperation with the pertinent bodies of the United Nations. In this regard, it is timely that there be a greater coordination with ECOSOC that will make it possible to address the impacts of climate change and food insecurity, as well as the consequences for international peace and security, always bearing in mind the interconnected nature of these challenges. Two, involve evaluations on climate risks with a gender perspective to ensure that the United Nations forces assigned to peacekeeping operations maintain pertinent communication with those responsible for monitoring early warning systems for the climate, so that they are able to work preventatively with the communities in which they are operating. Panama is committed to work towards achieving these commitments of the Paris Agreement. Through Executive Order No. 3 of 8 June 2023, we adopted the National Policy for Climate Change 2050, which establishes ambitious goals and concrete measures to mitigate the effects of climate change and guarantee sustainable development in the long term. If we are elected as non-permanent members of the Security Council for the period 2025-2026, Panama will continue to promote the consideration of this subject in that forum. With this, we reiterate our commitment to the environment and our ongoing commitment to building a more secure and sustainable future for future generations, which will free them from the scourge of war. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Panama for her statement, and I give the floor now to the representative of Ireland.

Ireland:
Thank you, Madam President. I align with the statements from the Group of Friends on Climate and Security and the European Union. I wish to thank the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for convening us, and the briefers for their excellent presentations. We support Guyana’s initiative to address these complex crises coherently, and its focus on supporting the efforts of the most vulnerable countries and regions. This is especially timely as work intensifies on the Pact for the Future and the SIDS4 outcome document. Ireland’s history of conflict, of hunger, informs our approach. During our recent term on the Security Council, we worked to address this and climate-related security risks. Guyana has rightfully asked for concrete recommendations for action. So we will make six. One, adopt a thematic UN Security Council resolution on climate, peace, and security. Two, appoint a special representative for climate, peace, and security. Three, establish regular reporting by the UN Secretary General on the adverse effects of climate change on peace and security. Taking these actions would enhance the UN’s capacity to identify and respond to climate-related security risks in all relevant mandates, policies, and processes, building on progress made at the Council and COP. These actions would also complement UN Security Council Resolution 2417. Four, scale up anticipatory action. Ireland supports taking action based on pre-agreed triggers to avert or mitigate the impact of disasters such as drought and flooding. The new Agenda for Peace reminds us that all countries have a role to take in taking steps towards anticipatory action, rather than solely those already affected by conflict. The peace-based Commission is well situated as a forum to discuss best practices in this regard. Five, maintain a focus on the gendered dimensions of these crises. The consequences of climate change, conflict and food security are not gender neutral. And six, scale up financing for climate action, humanitarian assistance, sustainable development and peace building. These are investments in peace and stability. Ireland for our part is doubling its climate finance to at least 225 million euros per year by 25 and spent 284 million in euros in 2023 on food, agriculture and nutrition. We commend the decision to establish, assess contributions for financing the peace building fund. The fund’s increased work on climate, peace and security is very welcome and we encourage further integration of food security concerns into its work. Finally, President, I wish to make a statement and recommendation on behalf of the group of friends of conflict of action on conflict and hunger which is chaired by Ecuador and Ireland. While the interconnections between climate change, food insecurity and peace and security are increasingly pronounced and complex, conflict remains the main driver of hunger in most of the world’s food crises. This causal link is made clear in recent IPC and UN reporting on several locations threatened by famine. Full implementation of Security Council Resolution 2417 is ever more essential to prevent famine and break the vicious cycle between armed conflict and food insecurity. We call on all member states and all parties to conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Fully and consistently implement Security Council Resolution 2417 and prevent conflict induced hunger. It is essential to facilitate humanitarian access to people in need, to protect civilians. humanitarian personnel and humanitarian relief consignments and to refrain from destroying objects necessary for food production and distribution, as well as objects that are indispensable to the survival of the civilian population. Madam President, thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Ireland for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of the Maldives.

Maldives:
Thank you, Madam President. I wish to congratulate Guyana for assuming the presidency of the Council for the month of February. Let me also express my appreciation to His Excellency Dr Irfan Ali, President of Guyana, for convening this important open debate. I would like to thank the briefers who have provided us with updates on the effects of climate change and food insecurity on international peace and security. The security dimension of the ongoing global climate emergency was cross-cutting and vital. As we can observe from the Sahel, Somalia, and Haiti, climate change is a risk multiplier which compounds the diverse of insecurity. The Maldives has consistently highlighted the obvious relationship between climate change and the maintenance of international peace and security. In this Council, we have been urging the emitting countries and the historical emitters to act with a sense of urgency in the face of climate emergency. The shifting, unpredictable, and extreme weather patterns threatening the food production, water security, and the energy supply chain. For the Maldives, like many other cities, climate change is a humanitarian issue as much as it is a political one. a security issue. For the Maldives and our fellow SIDs, the effects of climate change are catastrophic. SIDs are the first and hardest hit by the impact of climate change. Challenges due to climate change, such as unprecedented tidal waves, coastal erosion, and increased frequency of natural disasters, directly impact the livelihood of our people. In the Maldives, we are no longer able to use groundwater for drinking or for irrigation. Many SIDs rely on the cultivation of limited variety of crops, such as coconuts, bananas, and root crops for domestic consumption and for export. Small-scale agriculture also sustains local communities and provides nutrition for the local communities too. As we lack the productive capacity for diversification, the imports of unpredictable and extreme weather on these crops can be devastating. The unprecedented acceleration of climate change gravely aggravates our existing vulnerabilities. It further limits our ability to meet sustainable development goals. The cross-cutting nature of climate change has implications for the international community as a whole. Rising temperatures have disrupted the water cycle, resulting in unpredictable rainfalls, floods, and droughts. Climate disasters are occurring in areas which are not equipped with infrastructure or mechanism to withstand such extreme conditions. It has resulted in the interruption of vital food production, transportation, and energy systems. The situation is worse for countries with less developed economies and growing populations. an increase in risk of conflict. Developing countries, especially those in special situations, including the LDCs, LLDCs, and SIDs, are disproportionately affected by the impact of climate change. The least responsible for the crisis bears the brunt of its effects. The Maldives urges the Council to uphold its responsibility to maintain international peace and security. The intricate and interlinked nature of relationship between climate change, food insecurity, and conflict requires global cooperation and local action. We cannot ignore human casualties of climate change any longer. Prevention of conflicts requires a sustainable approach. We can maintain international peace and security by acting decisively in overcoming climate emergency. We need to uplift countries in vulnerable situations by supporting development and food security strategies. We need to strengthen climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. We must address the root cause of ongoing crisis and conflicts so we do not have to keep reacting to its consequences. The link between climate change and insecurity has been recognized by some members of this Council for several years now. We are now past the time to question the link. It is time to act and take the difficult and decisive step in reducing emissions and compensate for the victims of climate change. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of the Maldives for his statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Mauritius.

Mauritius:
Madam President, let me begin by thanking the Guyanese Presidency for organizing this high-level debate on the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international. national peace and security. Madam President, climate change is a stark reality that exacerbates global food insecurity, creating and reinforcing peace and security concerns worldwide. For seeds like Mauritius, the implications are particularly severe. Mauritius relies heavily on food imports, with over 77% of its food requirements being imported. This makes Mauritius vulnerable to disruptions in global commodity and supply chains resulting in fluctuations in food prices. The food that we are able to grow is dependent on the impacts of climate and rising sea levels. But so is the production of food around the world. Coastal land and arable land are getting reduced or contaminated by seawater, thereby reducing crops’ yields. Extreme weather events, such as droughts and flooding, along with cyclones, are destroying crops, livestock, while disrupting food production and distribution. Ocean acidification is causing harm to fish production. Such resource scarcity will lead to competition for limited resources, social unrest, displacement, and potential conflict. We are already witnessing some of these effects in the form of migration and displacements, which in turn increase threat to peace and security. There is empirical evidence in this regard. By 2050, unchecked climate change would force more than 200 million people to migrate, pushing 130 million people into poverty. Mauritius therefore considers that urgent, ambitious mitigation measures must be implemented to reduce greenhouse emissions and global warming. To address these challenges, we must commit to concrete measures and strategies that alleviate and avert the worst impacts of climate change on food security. This includes implementing climate-resilient agricultural practices, investing in sustainable food systems, and strengthening early warning systems for food crisis. Additionally, promoting biodiversity conservation, supporting smallholder farmers, and enhancing access to technology and financial resources are crucial steps. In line with its nationally determined contributions, Mauritius has not only reaffirmed its commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector, but has also identified agriculture as a priority sector for climate change adaptation, with focus on efficient irrigation techniques and climate-smart agriculture. International cooperation is essential, particularly for seeds facing acute vulnerabilities. The provision of climate finance, technology transfer, capacity building and knowledge sharing can help developing countries to not only adapt to climate change and build resilience in their food systems, but also strengthen community resilience, leverage the power of partnerships, digital platforms and private-public modalities. To achieve these, effective coordination is paramount. The Security Council must enhance collaboration with mechanisms such as the ECOSOC to holistically address the impacts of climate change and food insecurity. Joint initiatives, knowledge-sharing platforms and joint missions can create a more comprehensive understanding of the interplay between climate change, food security and peace. Madam President, Climate change with its impacts on food security is an extremely urgent issue and needs to be tackled now. We have learned lessons from the past insofar as preventive diplomacy is concerned. Climate change as a threat to international peace and security must be addressed in a concerted manner before it is too late. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Mauritius for her statement and I now give the floor to the representative of Ethiopia.

Ethiopia:
Madam President, I would like to congratulate you for assuming the presidency of the Security Council for the month of February. I also thank the Secretary General and all the briefers for their insightful remarks. Madam President, the effects of climate change have continued to exasperate the multifaceted challenges of developing countries, affecting the lives and livelihoods of many. Its adverse impacts are felt across regions, with severe economic damage on climate-exposed sectors. This glaring fact is highly evident in the agricultural sector in which food production is adversely affected in different parts of the world. Extreme climate events have become a major challenge and affected many in the Eastern African region. If the problem of global warming is not addressed in a timely and collective manner, The risks of climate-driven food insecurity will continue to pose serious challenge to humanity. Madam President, Tackling climate change should be high in our development agenda. The climate crisis we are facing today are primarily due to human activities, largely through emissions of greenhouse gases. We have to fulfill our global obligations to mitigate the negative effects of climate change. We need to increase national ambition levels and excel in our climate actions to achieve the goal of 1.5°C. If we are to maximize results and achieve our common objective, adequate resources for adaptation and mitigation of climate change must also be made available. In this regard, commitments made in climate financing must urgently and fully be made. Our climate action should be a task anchored on our primary responsibility of developing our agricultural sectors to ensure food security. Increasing production and productivity of sector is therefore a sustainable solution to address the challenges surrounding food insecurity. In addition to the efforts by developing countries to address the challenges surrounding the agricultural sector, it is high time for international community to strengthen robust agricultural finance that is inclusive and responsive to the needs of farmers, particularly in Africa. Madam President, we in Ethiopia have taken important measures and achieved tangible results in addressing these challenges. We have launched the Green Legacy Initiative with the aim to combat land degradations, deforestation and ensure food security through local inputs and participation of local people, both in urban and rural areas. Our initiatives on off-season irrigated wheat and school feeding programs have brought significant progress. In this connection, Ethiopia reiterates its commitment to continue its effort to combat the effects of climate change. Beyond these strategic measures, Madam President, we believe strengthening the implementation of regional and international trade agreements to avert food supply disruption is paramount. This, coupled with strong social protection programs, economic and social resilience, increased investment in market and fiscal infrastructure, and enhanced early warning system bring the desired result in climate change responses. While these critical measures of urgent necessity to mitigate the effects of climate change and food insecurity, it goes without saying that addressing the root cause of conflict cannot be overemphasized. In this regard, eradicating extreme poverty by accelerating sustainable growth and development is extremely crucial. I thank you, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Ethiopia for his statement. And I now give the floor to the representative of Papua New Guinea.

Papua New Guinea:
Distinguished Madam President, all protocols observed, my delegation is pleased to join this welcome high-level open debate. May I, at the outset, extend Papua New Guinea’s appreciation and congratulations to you, Madam President, and your distinguished delegation for the council presidency for this month and for the successful signature event, which is of high importance to my delegation and also for many others, as attested by the speakers list we have before us. Well done. We also recognize the important contributions from the respective briefers we had from yesterday. Madam President, our lived reality in my own country, Papua New Guinea, and in other Pacific small island developing states, informs us that we are especially affected and disproportionately impacted by climate change at multidimensional. levels. Climate change poses a range of severe risks, including for international peace and security, and should not be conceptualized narrowly in environmental terms, but rather it must be viewed as a multidimensional phenomenon that amplifies existing environmental, economic, social and security vulnerabilities. It should therefore be seen as an escalator of existing drivers of conflict, particularly those related to pressure, including on land and resources, rather than as a discrete driver itself. It is from this standpoint that we do not take for granted the nexus between food insecurity, climate change adverse impacts, and its implications on international peace and security. We therefore strongly support the focus of the Security Council on these interlinkages, including true dimension of food insecurity and the protection of people’s lives and livelihoods. We therefore call on today’s Council members and those in future, particularly the naysayers, who delink climate change to international peace and security, not to be like an ostrich with its head in the sand. Get real. Madam President, secondly, Papua New Guinea is currently facing external security challenges that are primarily non-traditional and development-oriented. Among these challenges, climate change and natural disasters stand out as significant threats. These threats have the potential to affect my country at all levels, leading to various security challenges, including human security concerns. security, health crisis, competition for resources, violence arising from mismanaged migration and adaptation, and conflicts over land disputes, given the traditional land tenure system we have, where people own 90% of the land, with the government just around 10%. Added to this is sea level rise and climate change, which continue to impact our low-lying island communities. This is compounded by storm surges and high tides washing away homes, destroyed infrastructure, and contaminated freshwater aquifers by saltwater inundation. Forced displacement and loss of livelihoods and instances of violence of resettled populations continue to be of serious concern for many of our coastal communities. Madam President, thirdly, our Blue Pacific continent is heavily dependent on coastal and oceanic fisheries for food security and livelihoods, where subsistence and small-scale artisanal fisheries provide livelihoods for hundreds of thousands of people in our region. Fish intake in our region is high and estimated around 50 to 90% of animal protein intake in rural areas and 40 to 80% in urban areas. Most of this fish consumed by rural people come from subsistence coastal fisheries based on species dependent on coastal coral reef habitats. For commercial fisheries, 1.4 million metric tons of tuna are caught in the waters of the Pacific island countries, including my own country, each year, supplying more than 30% of the global tuna market. Climate change, however, continues to have serious adverse impacts on our coastal fisheries and ocean-based economies. Mass coral bleaching threatens our coral reef fisheries, which our people depend on for protein intake. Ocean warming threatens our ocean-based economies, including including through the migration and distribution of tuna and other marine resources. Madam President, it is in light of this serious threat to Pacific peoples and communities’ lives and livelihoods that the Pacific Islands Forum leaders adopted two landmark declarations in August 2021 and November 2023 on preserving maritime zones in the face of climate-related sea-level rise and on the continuity of statehood and the protection of persons in the face of climate-change-related sea-level rise, respectively. We welcome further endorsement and support of these two declarations by other states, international organizations, and non-state actors. Before I close, my delegation reaffirms our strong support for the appointment of a Secretary General’s Special Representative for Climate, Peace, and Security, as has been called for by many others who have spoken before me. We must not downplay or ignore these increasing calls at our own perils. Finally, we align our remarks with those made by the respective chairs of the Pacific SEADS, Vanuatu, and from the Pacific Islands Forum, Tonga, and also the group of friends of climate and security who will speak later on. I thank you indeed, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Papua New Guinea, and I now give the floor to the representative of Myanmar.

Myanmar:
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, first of all, Myanmar thanks the Presidency of Guyana for organizing this high-level open debate. I wish to express our appreciation to the Secretary General and other briefers for their valuable contributions to the debate. Madam President, no country is immune from the impact of climate change. For many, it is an existential threat. Livelihoods and ways of life are at risk. are under growing threats of changing climate across the world and accordingly it’s a huge impact on the food insecurity. A conflict is that another key factor of food insecurity. The interconnected issue of climate change conflict and food insecurity and their direct impact on peace and security need to be addressed in a holistic approach by comprehensive national policy planning and effective implementation and it’s required sustained global and regional coordinated actions and support. Madam President, my country Myanmar is also at risk to severe severe climate related events including powerful cyclones. These events pose a persistent threat to food security. The existing vulnerability has gone down to a new law in the 2021 illegal military group. The junta and its brutal dictatorship is the most immediate and long-term threat to Myanmar people and their future. Following the coup attempt and the subsequent collapse of the rule of law in Myanmar, nearly 19 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance. That includes 6 million children who have been facing interrupted health care including immunization programs, education, food insecurity and more nutrition. The junta troops have committed a large number of atrocities against the civilian population. The recently emerged video evidence of their cruelty shock the whole society of Myanmar. They torture to capture in resistant fighters and burn them alive while cheering the inhumane act of terror. They have been deploying the indiscriminate artillery shelling and airstrike against the residential towns and villages. The latest act of terror by junta was on 5th February in which the junta airstrike targeted a local school in Demoso Township, Kayini State, killing four innocent children and injuring many. The recent elevation of conscription law by the military junta is another serious concern for the people of Myanmar, especially young people. It is an illegal act. It’s also revealed that the military junta is so weak and does not have enough troops. Therefore, forced recruitment is foreseeable, and many young women and men, as well as their parents, are worried and fear of it. Madam President, with their intention to weaken the anti-coup resistance, the junta troops have been destroying their communities and their livelihoods by means of systematic and widespread banning of civilian homes across the country. All these brutal acts of illegal junta have displaced 2.6 million people. This targeted destruction of homes and livelihoods by the junta has significantly disrupted the production of food in many parts of the country. Despite the UN Security Council’s demand for and hindered humanitarian access, the blocking of humanitarian assistance by the junta continues. It is essential that aid workers be able to deliver life-saving humanitarian assistance to those in most need, based on the fundamental humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence. With this background, it is imperative for the international community, especially humanitarian assistance providers, to make sure that humanitarian assistance reaches all people in need, especially those in conflict-affected areas, in a sustainable and predictable manner. In this regard, the international community’s concerted, coordinated, and sustained efforts are needed. In conclusion, Madam President, the Security Council made repeated calls and demands, including through the Resolution 2669. However, the Council has yet to take any concrete enforcement actions to stop the military junta’s ongoing atrocious attacks against the civilian population. Neither has it addressed the junta’s denial of humanitarian access, which aid organizations, including UN agencies. have repeatedly cited as a key obstacle to their humanitarian operations. Therefore, taking this opportunity, I ask the Security Council to follow up with enforcement actions to its repeated demands for ending violence and hindering humanitarian access in Myanmar. Any action taken by the international community, including the UN Security Council, should not be for prolonging the military dictatorship, but for realizing the goals of the Myanmar people, who are longing for living in a free, peaceful, inclusive, just, and democratic society. And thank you, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Myanmar for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Brazil.

Brazil:
Thank you, Madam President. I would like to express Brazil’s satisfaction in having Guyana a friendly South American neighboring country chairing the Security Council in organizing this debate. I thank the Secretary General and the briefers for their insightful remarks. For Brazil, the eradication of hunger in all its forms is an ethical, social, political, environmental, and economic imperative, and yes, also a diplomatic one. Our challenges on food insecurity and malnutrition derive from multiple structural causes, such as profound inequalities between and within countries, inefficient economic policies, fragile social protection, barriers to trade, and an often disruptive international environment. Some of these causes can also be triggers of conflicts. The world needs coherent and integrated approaches to deal with conflict-induced food insecurity. They should encompass political solutions, sustainable development efforts, and full respect for the protection of human rights and the full respect for international humanitarian law. As president of the G20 this year, Brazil has proposed a global alliance against poverty and hunger. Our objective is to identify best policies on poverty and hunger reduction and to assist countries in need to implement them with the necessary means to do so. Other actions to enhance global food security are well known. The abolition of trade-distorting agricultural subsidies is crucial and long overdue to promote fair international trade and increase agriculture. Further, harmful measures such as unilateral sanctions and trade barriers based on extraterritorial requirements also must be removed. Having been focal points in the Security Council for Resolution 2417, we think the Council has a robust framework to deal with conflict-induced food insecurity. The challenge is how the Council implements it. First, it must establish a technical and objective threshold for the activation of the resolution’s early warning mechanism and to establish a clearer process for issuing white notes. Second, it should mainstream food security on country-specific discussions and ensure its inclusion in its resolutions and presidential and press statements. And third, it must meaningfully engage the civil society in the discussions around food. resolution 2417. The fifth assessment report of the IPCC emphasizes that climate change has already exposed millions of people to acute food insecurity. The interlinkage between climate change and hunger is crystal clear. The same IPCC report, however, stresses that compared to other socio-economic factors, the influence of climate on conflict is relatively weak. It also acknowledges that present development challenges causing high vulnerability to climate change are influenced by historical and ongoing patterns of inequity, such as colonialism. Both climate change and conflicts are drivers of food insecurity, but the linkage between climate and conflict is fragile. While we need action on all fronts, no effective solutions will be found if we fail to address each driver with the proper tools. The linkage between development and international peace and security are complex and multi-layered. The Security Council may contribute to efforts of host countries on the ground to increase local resilience and build capacities at their request and strictly according to its mandate. But let us be clear, not only the Security Council lacks the mandate to thematically and systematically address climate change, it also lacks the adequate tools to tackle key issues such as the provision of climate finance and means of implementation. The climate change regime, grounded on the UNFCCC and its Paris Agreement, is based on principles that ensure balance, transparency, and inclusivity with decisions based on consensus. This is far away from the reality of the Security Council. Also attempts to securitize the climate agenda do not serve the interests of the states mostly affected by climate change, particularly developing countries. COP 28 in Dubai was a pivotal moment in the multilateral climate change regime. We now need to follow up on it and move forward towards COP 30 in Brazil and the new round of NDCs. Climate change, hunger, and conflict are among the greatest challenges of humankind. Without an effective response in the right fora and with the proper tools, we won’t be able to address their root causes and adverse impacts on our societies. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Brazil and I now give the floor to the representative of the United Arab Emirates.

United Arab Emirates:
Madam President, at the outset… Allow me to thank Guyana and, in particular, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, for convening this important debate. I also thank the Secretary General for his remarks and the briefers for their contributions. Madam President, for today’s meeting, we have been asked to reflect on the interlinkages between climate change, food security, and peace and security. The United Arab Emirates would like to lay out three specific ways to tackle the nexus of these interconnected challenges. First, we know that the impacts of climate change and food insecurity are unevenly distributed. As our briefers mentioned, there is a great degree of overlap between those experiencing instability, hunger and high humanitarian needs, and vulnerabilities to climate change. What this means is that, for the large part, it is often the same people who face acute hunger, conflict, and living on the front lines of the climate crisis. Furthermore, today’s conflicts are often protracted in nature, many lasting years. We cannot wait for conflicts to resolve before taking action to address climate risks and repair food systems, particularly when their impacts are often a catalyst for additional vulnerabilities or instability. Interventions focused on the most fragile and conflict-affected areas and communities will yield multifold peace dividends. Preventing and addressing food insecurity, which is amplified by climate and conflict risks, starts with early, community-centered action and finding the right entry points for organizations across the humanitarian, development, and peace nexus. Second, the Declaration on Climate Relief, Recovery, and Peace, endorsed during COP28 and the UAE last year. December proposes a set of actions specifically focused on highly climate vulnerable states affected by fragility, conflict, or facing severe humanitarian needs including hunger. The declaration was endorsed by over 80 states parties and over 40 international entities. It represents a significant step in the direction of recognizing these interlinkages while at the same time offering a menu of targeted policy interventions and options for multi-sectoral financial and technical support. These include the scaling up of climate adaptation programming and finance, early warning and anticipatory action, and strengthening the evidence base of climate action in these countries and contexts particularly from actors with a long history of operating in conflict zones. Third, a range of interventions that have co-benefits for improved food security, climate action, and stability are already well known and available to us today. Boosting climate resilience and adaptation mechanisms remain the most efficient tools at our disposal to reduce both food insecurity as well as humanitarian needs and instability in areas most impacted by extreme weather patterns and slow onset events. From the Sahel to the Horn, investing in resilience through climate smart agricultural techniques, drought resistant crops, and water efficient irrigation systems will yield peace dividends. The council’s recognition of the interlinkages between food security and instability in the context of its mandated missions, such as in the Central African Republic and Somalia, will help strengthen co-creation of programming across the peace and development sectors. Finally, let me refer back to the Secretary General’s statement yesterday and the once-in-a-generation opportunity that the summit of the future represents. Retailoring our multilateral governance mechanism to the interwoven challenges of the 21st century is no easy feat. We will not be able to address the interconnected challenges of the 21st century by using our problem-solving mechanisms from the last century. While we recognize the distinct mandates of relevant bodies, including that of the Security Council and the UNFCCC, we must also recognize their complementarity and strive to optimize them by improved coordination across the development, humanitarian, climate, and peace domains, and must strengthen operational partnerships. The proposals outlined by the Secretary General in the new agenda for peace offer many ideas, which we hope to see reflected in the pact of the future. Despite having recently completed our term on the Security Council, the UAE will remain an active partner on climate, peace, and security, including in the context of the pact of the future. Thank you, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of the United Arab Emirates, and I now give the floor to the representative of Romania.

Romania:
Thank you, Madam President. Madam President, I would like to applaud and thank IANA for organizing this important debate and for facilitating these briefings that we heard yesterday. In addition to the points made by the European Union and the Group of Friends on Climate and Security, I would like to add a few brief points. We do concur that the international system is burdened by numerous overlapping crises, a security crisis, and an increasing number of conflicts, climate change, and crises related to natural disasters with cascading effects. Their multiple and multidimensional consequences are devastating. The climate crisis represents a cross-generational challenge. Extreme climate manifestations affect all UN member states. But for SEADs and LDC countries, the impact is devastating, even existential. Sea level rise and coastal degradation are recurring topics on the UN agenda, and we welcome such frequent discussions in different formats. They have an undeniable impact on international peace and security, as it was also acknowledged by different speakers in this debate. There is also an undeniable connection between climate change and food insecurity. Many of our member states are unfortunately well too familiar. In some cases, droughts can lead to conflicts and violence. When 800 million people worldwide are confronted with starvation, as stated by the World Food Programme, we cannot simply acknowledge the vicious cycle where food supplies are deliberately disrupted or destroyed, agricultural lands are ravaged, and access to vital resources is blocked. We need to break this cycle. Romania firmly condemned the weaponization of food, especially in conflict situations, and acted to alleviate the security impact. Over 35 million tons of grains from Ukraine transited Romania to the world market since the Russian aggression against Ukraine started. Madam President, the value of this debate lies in its forward-looking approach. We state the problem, but we also need to identify the fixes. Integrating innovative tools is crucial in addressing the nexus climate change and food insecurity. Artificial intelligence may be a valuable instrument in mitigating climate change impact by examining various data as greenhouse gas emissions, weather patterns, and other environmental factors. Likewise, early warning is important. Anticipating and preventing risks help in defining an adequate response. While natural hazards cannot be prevented, we can limit their disruptive power. Disaster risk reduction measures, including the use of the early warning system and data analysis, are good avenues in mitigating the effects of climate change. In conclusion, Madam President, we encourage the Security Council to continue addressing the security implications of climate change. Thank you, Madam President.

Croatia:
Thank you, Madam President, and I thank you for organizing this timely meeting and to all the briefers for their insightful and passionate interventions. The compounded challenges we are facing in today’s complex world have taught us that we cannot continue doing things in silos. We have experienced the interconnectedness of crisis, and it is clear that our efforts to overcome them also need to be interlinked and coherent. As you rightly point out in your guidance note, we have plenty of scientific evidence that climate change and food insecurity have a negative impact on international peace and security and vice versa. Unprecedented adverse climate impacts are increasingly threatening the resilience of agriculture and food systems, as well as the living conditions of affected populations, especially the most vulnerable. It particularly puts in danger people, communities, and countries already threatened or affected by fragility or conflict or facing severe humanitarian needs. Hunger itself is both a cause and a consequence of conflict, and climate change exacerbates both. We know the causes. The question is how to find practical solutions to improve prevention and protection. This can only be done by working across sectors and pillars and connecting peace and security with development, humanitarian assistance, and human rights. We believe the Peacebuilding Commission is uniquely placed to support countries affected by intersecting challenges. PBC provides a singular platform to discuss peace and security, climate and food security in a coherent and coordinated way, as it has advisory role to the General Assembly and the Security Council and a bridging role to the ECOSOC. Through its cooperation with international and regional organizations and financial institutions, it can support countries and their population in challenging situations through approaches such as social protection systems and safety nets, targeted research and innovation, and focusing on the specific needs of women. women and children, as well as various vulnerable groups. We therefore invite all those in need of support and especially countries affected by conflict and fragility to engage with the PBC based on national ownership and minimize negative impacts of climate change and food security and risks of lapse or relapse into conflict. I thank you, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
Thank you, Representative of Croatia, for his statement, and I now give the floor to the Representative of Paraguay.

Paraguay:
Thank you very much, Madam President Paraguay. Thank you for this opportunity to take the floor in this debate, and we’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Presidency of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana of the Security Council for the month of February 2024. Thank you for putting forward this important matter to the international community. We’re also sure that Guyana will have a very fruitful presidency, and we wish you every success in this forum, one of essential importance for international peace and security. Madam President, climate change and food insecurity exacerbate the vicious cycle that is created by the links with international conflicts and humanitarian crises. It is cause and effect, with the result being on societies and groups that are profoundly affected in terms of their quality of life. We should always remember, as we have said during previous debates, that without peace there can be no development. Without development there can be no peace. And we note that global investment in development pales into insignificance compared with the amount of money that is spent on war. We recognize the complex nature of food insecurity and the fact that its recurrence is due to a combination of many factors, such as the economic and financial crisis across the globe, environmental degradation, desertification, and armed conflicts, domestically as well as internationally. The fourth national communication on climate change for our country shows a reduction of 44 percent in emissions due to changes in land use and forestry, and a reduction of 40 percent in methane emissions in the agricultural and livestock sector compared with 2010. We have taken our first steps to be involved in the voluntary carbon market. Paraguay feels that this is essential for food security and energy. We are very much aware of the environment, and we have taken steps forward in order to be considered a leader in this field. In addition to these factors, we should stress that climate change is a serious danger to the production of food, and that’s why it’s essential that we come to a collective commitment, and we did this with the Paris Agreement, namely to increase the capacity of adaptation of countries to the adverse effects of climate change and promote resilience to the climate in a way that does not compromise food production. For developing countries, adaptation is a fundamental component in the fight against climate change, without which it will not be possible to safeguard food security and to put an end to hunger in the world. All of this reconfirms us in our conviction that climate change and food insecurity are an affront to the human right to food, the right to development, as well as a challenge for the international community in achieving the aims of the United Nations Charter, and it’s our duty to pool our efforts in order to ensure the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. Madam President, Paraguay is a country that defends and promotes equality, and that is why we are concerned as we see food insecurity disproportionately affecting girls and women. They make up 70 percent of the more than 750 million people affected by these problems, according to the FAO. That’s why we would encourage all states to continue to apply an equality approach in practice and in armed conflict and ensure the protection of innocent civilians in armed conflict. Since peace is essential, it is important to stress that development is an indispensable factor for achieving more resilient societies, and here we would stress the ever-increasing role played by new ICT when it comes to global peace and security, and that’s why it’s imperative that states work together to build and strengthen national technological capacities in order to help to mitigate the effects of climate change and address the sources of food insecurity. We believe that this Council can be an enabling force to support international efforts to bring about a more secure world through the inclusion of indicators on food insecurity in peacekeeping missions that are deployed in accordance with the Charter of this organization, as well as through coherent and dynamic feedback with ECOSOC since peace and development go hand in hand. We would encourage the Council to include in its reports to the General Assembly the information on food insecurity that it has assessed within its remit in order to ensure that the resolutions in the corresponding committees and in the General Assembly itself are anchored in the reality on the ground. This will make it possible to adopt effective solutions which will facilitate the maintenance of peace. Thank you very much, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
The representative of Paraguay for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Nauru.

Nauru:
Madam President, Excellencies, it is my honor to deliver this statement on behalf of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security, a broad and diverse group of countries comprising 67 UN member states. I would like to express our group’s gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Muhammad Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana, for convening this timely debate and for giving us the opportunity to address the Council on this important topic. We also thank the Secretary General and all the other briefers for their valuable insights and suggestions. Madam President, conflict itself is a primary global driver of global hunger. On top of that, the impacts of climate change, such as more frequent extreme weather, events, floods, persistent droughts, land degradation, water scarcity, forest fires, loss of biodiversity, and rising ocean temperatures and sea levels have multifaceted consequences for food security all over the world, including by possible impacts on food production, supplies, and food prices. These impacts are acute and may lead to interior disputes over resources, economic uncertainty, the deterioration of livelihoods over resources, economic uncertainty, displacement of communities, and grave impacts on human rights, and ultimately increase the risk of instability and conflict. The Council has recognized these interlinkages and mutually reinforcing dynamics in the past. Scaling up conflict and food-sensitive climate adaptation and mitigation measures in affected regions, including through international climate finance, which takes into account the needs of people who are at most risk of climate impacts, is imperative. Raising our ambitions on climate action to achieve the objectives set out in the UNFCCC and the long-term goals of the Paris Agreement and to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems to keep the temperature rise within 1.5 degrees Celsius should be a key factor. in our joint effort to contain and ultimately prevent threats to international peace and security driven or exacerbated by the climate crisis. The entire UN system, as well as regional organizations, must address this complex challenge. We acknowledge that important work is already being done by a multitude of relevant agencies and multilateral development banks, including the Rome-based agencies FAO, IFAD, WFP, CFS, as well as the UN Climate Security Mechanism. We also welcome the recent UN Food Systems Summit Plus II and the actions undertaken by the Food Systems Climate Nexus. Madam President, as the guarantor of international peace and security, the Security Council is tasked with upholding this duty through the implementation of effective measures that promote stability and prevent conflicts from arising. The Group of Friends welcomed the progress made in this regard in Talia, the growing recognition of the adverse impacts of the climate crisis, including on food insecurity when considering mandates of peacekeeping and special political missions. The Group of Friends further recognizes the crucial role of the informal expert group of the members of the Security Council on climate and security in informing the Council’s work and further acknowledges the joint pledges related to climate, peace, and security of Council members. While these are positive developments, more needs to be done. The Group of Friends is therefore calling for concrete, tangible action to be considered. One, make use of gender-responsive risk assessments, which draw from the climate, humanitarian development, and peace fears, as well as climate-related early warning systems to encourage anticipatory action. Two, ensure assistance reaches the community level and adopt a do-no-harm approach that protects and promotes human rights in all efforts, confronting the adverse effects of climate change and food insecurity. 3. Systematically incorporate climate change and disaster risks and its potential impacts in the mandates of all relevant UN peacekeeping and special political missions, and encourage all missions to reduce their environmental footprints. 4. Request regular monitoring and reporting by the Secretary General to the Security Council on the peace and security impacts and implications of climate change. 5. Regularize or normalize, within existing resources, the appointment of climate peace and security advisors in relevant UN missions and regional and sub-regional organizations. And 6. The possible appointment of a special representative for climate peace and security to enhance coordination between relevant UN entities and improve the organization’s ability to address climate-related security risks. Madam President, the Group of Friends urges the Council to live up to its mandate and holistically address the adverse effects of climate change, including food insecurity, on international peace and security. And we stand ready to support all such efforts. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Nauru for her statement, and I give the floor now to the representative of Nigeria.

Nigeria:
Madam President, my delegation joined others to congratulate you for assuming the presidency of this month. We also thank you for organizing this timely debate on the impact of climate and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security. We also thank the Secretary General of the UN for his remarks, and the – also the Executive Director, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the other briefers, and the other speakers for their insightful briefing. Madam President, the world is going through a food crisis that is impacting especially the world’s most vulnerable countries and economies. Most countries impacted by climate change suffer from extreme food insecurity. The world’s poorest people who have done the least to cause climate change are the most affected by hunger and starvation. Rising temperatures and sea levels, as well as frequent extreme weather events, threatens access to nutritious food and clean water. The disruptive impact of climate change on livelihood around the world, terrorism and conflicts, and the multiplied impact of wars have contributed largely to the sustained and deepening food insecurity situation in many parts of the world. The destruction of homeland, farmlands, loss of lives and livelihoods, and mass movement of populations caused by climate change have long-term environmental, social, economic, and security implications on the society. The displacement and lack of means of sustenance have increased incidences of insurgencies, banditry, and more recently, kidnapping for ransom. This devastating situation has caused suffering to the people in the affected areas. In addition to a severe humanitarian crisis, this in turn has forced large-scale migration with its consequences, including the escalation of arms conflicts. Food insecurity has been a source of many recent conflicts and a major factor behind outbreaks and unrest. When this lasts more than one farming season, people are forced to migrate elsewhere for sustenance. The destruction of rural infrastructures, loss of livelihoods, deforestation caused by drought or conflict, all have long-term impacts on the economy. food security impact on society. In addition to continued war in Ukraine has adversely affected the food supply chain, further exacerbating the pre-existing global food insecurity, and created more food shortages, particularly in countries in special need. We commend the United Nations Security General on the Black Sea Initiative and the countries that facilitated the process. We also call on both parties for more commitment towards the initiative, which is a beacon of hope in our starving and troubled world. Madam President, the nexus between climate change and food insecurity cannot be overemphasized. Climate change represents a clear threat to peace and security in Africa. And most developing countries, while rising food insecurity, worsened by wars, threatening the lives and livelihoods of millions on the continent. The dimensional ripple effect of climate change has negatively impacted the African region, despite its insignificant level of greenhouse gas emission. The situation is further exacerbated by increasing case of terrorism and violent extremism, displacing people and reducing the agricultural productivity of communities. The gross displacement of farmers by continual terrorist attack and the challenges of climate change in the Lake Chag Basin, caused by drought and the shrinking of the lake, by the tree, as well as farmers’ headless conflicts, have displaced many rural communities. This has increased the number of IDPs facing poverty, hunger, and starvation. And the most affected are women and children. False displacement impact negatively on food production and supplies. And the movement of people in such a livelihood has further ignited and escalated conflicts and unrest. Clearly, more than 70% of the world’s population experiencing acute hunger and starvation in conflict-affected areas. The situation reminds us of our collective commitment to better address climate change. It is necessary that we commit urgent transformative solutions and measures that guarantee the sustainability of natural resources-based and ecological services, as well as to build the resilience of farming communities to boost food production. Madam President, Africa is the most affected by security challenges and the devastating impact of climate change. To address the far-reaching effect of climate change on agricultural production, there is the need for a concerted effort to increase investment in climate finance, especially in Africa, where support is critical to enable transition to green economies. Countries that pledge climate actions must fulfill their financial commitment to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including those made at the COP 28 last year. Developing countries and affected regions must be given the requisite support to enable local manufacturing to navigate the shortfall in food production. There is the need for a fair trading system that promotes transfer of technology, repatriation of illicit funds, and a sustainable economy. assets, debt relief, and modernization of agriculture to boost food production. These measures will help attenuate conflict over food in the most affected countries, reduce the cost of production, and stimulate the much-needed devastation of economies. Madam President, to stem this situation, the federal government of Nigeria has put in place measures to support local farmers through distribution of fertilizers and palliatives for mechanized farming and sustainable food production. The government is also working collaboratively with other entities to deepen various initiatives and, hence, implementation of agricultural policies, including research, applications, reviving extension services, easing impute assets, strengthening regulation, regulatory framework, facilitating affordable credits, enhancing processing capacity, broadening market access, and increasing commodity output. In conclusion, Madam President, we must resolve to work largely to address climate change in order to save our world. Nigeria affirms its commitment to climate action, food security, and international peace and security. We hope that our discussions today will translate into concrete measures and action. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Nigeria for her statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Suriname.

Suriname:
Thank you, Madam President. I take the opportunity to congratulate the Cooperative Republic of Guyana for assuming the presidency of the Security Council for February 2024 and express sincere gratitude for convening us on this very important topic. Suriname aligns itself with the statements delivered by the distinguished representative of Jamaica on behalf of CARICOM and the distinguished representative of Mauritania on behalf of OIC. Madam President, as we all know, the multiple global challenges, such as climate change, escalating geopolitical… tensions and the rising cost of living have an impact on food and nutrition security. Suriname recognizes that climate change, food insecurity, and the maintenance of peace and security are interlinked. Conflicts can lead to food insecurity. Food insecurity can trigger conflicts and exacerbate existing conflicts. Climate change can have an impact on peace and security, especially in fragile and conflict affected regions. Climate change can also lead to food insecurity and can trigger competition over natural resources, insecure livelihoods, and mass displacement, increasing the risk of social tension and instability. As underscored by the UN Secretary General in his remarks on presenting the priorities of the organization for 2024, and I quote, whether the cause is conflict or climate, the result is the same, disruption to global supply chains and increased costs for everybody. Developing economies are particularly vulnerable to this disruption, end quote. Hence Suriname strongly advocates for urgent and equitable global action to address these existential challenges. The United Nations, in particular the Security Council and the ECOSOC, have a significant role to play in this regard. The mandate of both the Security Council and ECOSOC provides a good basis for joint efforts to encourage conflict prevention and addressing the multiple global crisis threatening peace and security. Suriname emphasizes the imperative of ongoing dialogue, coordination, and collaboration between these vital organs of the UN. Madam President, to be successful in maintaining peace and security and ensuring sustainable development for our current and future generations, the following fundamental preconditions must be met. Setting aside ideological differences, to collaboratively advance the prosperity of our people and the protection of our planet, demonstrating political will, upholding firm commitments to international principles, international law, and the principles of the United Nations Charter, urgent and comprehensive reform of the international financial architecture to address the economic, financial, and environmental challenges faced by developing countries. In conclusion, Suriname underscores the critical importance of effective multilateralism in addressing our global challenges, including the impact that climate change and food insecurity have on the maintenance of international peace and security. We must pursue these objectives with unity and solidarity. Peace and security lie at the heart of the United Nations Funding Principles, and we must prioritize conflict prevention, which is the cornerstone of our efforts to ensure sustainable development and a habitable planet for all. I thank you, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Suriname for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Tonga.

Tonga:
Madam President, distinguished members of the Security Council, Excellencies, and delegates, I have the honor of delivering this statement on behalf of the members of the Pacific Islands Forum with presence at the United Nations, namely Australia, the Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and my own country, Tonga. Today, we stand at the crossroads of the unfolding multifaceted global crisis of climate change as one of the leading drivers of global food insecurity. As a region, Pacific island nations have consistently called for urgent and ambitious action on climate change and I reiterate this very call at this auspicious engagement today. Climate change is the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and well-being of peoples of the Pacific. This fact is undisputed. Land inundation and sea level rise are among the most serious effects of climate change but the reality is that long before land goes underwater it will become uninhabitable. Land will become so degraded that it cannot support human life or biodiversity and the complex and critical ecosystem that once thrived will be no more. Saltwater intrusion in water tables will render islands uninhabitable before lands go underwater. This climate crisis exacerbates the challenges we already contend with due to the scarcity of resources and remoteness of our island economies. It has the potential to ignite social unrest, exacerbate tensions between communities and force populations to migrate thereby destabilizing our region and beyond. Excellencies, climate related displacement is a reality in our region today. We are actively exploring and actioning the transition of those living in coastal areas to higher ground with more arable land. For our region which is home to for so many seeds, this discussion is no longer a future-oriented occurrence. It is our present-day reality. The burdens of climate change are further multiplied by the turbulence and chaos of global conflicts. Yes, these conflicts occur in regions far from our shores but their repercussions resonate deeply within every household, community and nation throughout the Pacific. Our populations bear the indirect consequences of the madness of war facing instability, insecurity, and the harsh reality of skyrocketing food prices. Esteemed colleagues, it goes without saying that the interconnected and magnified impacts of events beyond our control, yet profoundly affecting our communities, challenge our enjoyment of inherent rights and our aspirations for a life marked by security and peace. In response to these grave threats, we call upon the international community to join us in a united front, adopting measures and strategies that are not merely reactive, but are proactively designed to fortify our resilience. This demands the integration of climate resilient practices into our agricultural and fisheries management, fostering a transition towards renewable energy to cut the reliance on imported fields, thereby enhancing our food and energy security. This demands a global financial architecture that prioritizes accessible, adequate climate finance for nations at the forefront of climate crisis, enabling us to implement adaptation and mitigation strategies that are critical to our survival and sustainable development. The complexity of these challenges demands a synergized approach to governance and international cooperation. Traditionally, this august body has considered, facilitated, and brokered solutions or processes to settle issues of traditional security. However, for us, as with many small island developing states, climate change is now the greatest threat to our livelihood and accordingly deserves a standing consideration at this forum. Linked to this is the ongoing discussions on the membership of the UN Security Council. to ensure it is composed of members who can actively discuss and contribute to the key security issues and priorities of today. We must see strengthened coordination between the Security Council, the ECOSOC, and other relevant mechanisms. We therefore support the call for a special representative for climate, peace, and security to enhance coordination and address climate-related security risks. An integrated policy framework that comprehensively addresses the nexus of climate change, food insecurity, water insecurity, and peace and security is essential. Such an approach must prioritize the creation of partnerships with regional organizations, leveraging our collective knowledge, expertise, and experiences to foster solutions that are both effective and contextually relevant. Moreover, we see an imperative for the Security Council, member states, civil society, and the private sector to craft a proactive, coherent, and impactful strategy. This strategy must be rooted in inclusive dialogue that respects and amplifies the voices of those affected by this crisis. In closing, our call to action remains clear and urgent only through collective efforts and shared vision can we hope to mitigate the impacts of climate change, secure our food systems, and foster a world that is peaceful, stable, and sustainable for all. The time to act is now, and the Pacific Island nations stand ready to lead and support these endeavors, ensuring a resilient and prosperous future for our global family. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Tonga for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Bahrain.

Bahrain:
Thank you, Madam President. the Presidency of His Excellency Irfan Ali of the open debate, which is an important topic. And I thank Guyana for organizing this open debate on an issue that is of increasing importance, especially in light of continued conflicts in various parts of the world and in light of the effects of climate change. Climate change is a main driver to food insecurity according to the Food and Agricultural Organization. I would like to express my gratitude to the briefers for their valuable interventions. Madam President, 345 million people live in 82 countries and suffer from severe food insecurity. A number of factors such as armed conflicts, disruptions in supply chains, the increasing prices have contributed to increasing levels of food insecurity at the global level. Due to climate change, the increase in temperatures has a significant effect on weather patterns. They increase the frequency of natural disasters and this in turn damages crops and raises the prices of food and foodstuffs. Madam President, we believe in the importance of addressing the implications of climate change and food insecurity. This is why, under the leadership of His Majesty the King of Bahrain, and under the leadership of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, the government of Bahrain attaches great importance to food security. We have adopted a national strategy for food security, 2020 to 2030. It seeks to enhance innovative… agricultural practices to enhance local production and to develop adaptation strategies. Against this background, the Kingdom of Bahrain stresses the importance of protecting navigation routes and making efforts to ensure peace and security in the region and preventing any deterioration to ensure the safety of global navigation lines to protect global trade, to protect civilians and the interests of states from any attacks on global navigation routes. Madam President, the Kingdom of Bahrain believes that addressing climate change requires global cooperative efforts. The Kingdom actively participates in the Middle East Green Initiative and the Global Oceans Alliance and the Global Alliance on Methane Gas, the Green Government Initiative and the Carbon Neutrality Initiative by 2050. The Kingdom of Bahrain is fully committed to the COP 28 Declaration on Climate Change. We’re also committed to increasing adaptation efforts in countries that are most vulnerable to conflict and the effects of climate change. Madam President, the Security Council is undergoing a test. Its humanity is being tested and the United Nations has a chance to change the reality. We call upon all parties to the conflict to fulfill their commitments under international law and to stop the massacres that are being committed day after day in a number of hotspots. and conflict zones around the world, most notably the disastrous circumstances in Gaza. The Security Council must shoulder its responsibility and must achieve a complete ceasefire and must allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip to address the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza for more than four months now. In conclusion, the Kingdom of Bahrain is fully convinced that addressing the complex interaction between climate change, food insecurity, and the maintenance of international peace and security requires concerted and coordinated efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, to improve agricultural practices, and to achieve sustainable development. We need to work together. I thank you, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Bahrain for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh:
Thank you, Madam President. I commend Guyana for assuming the presidency of the Security Council for this month and successfully steering the work of the Council. I thank the distinguished briefers for their insightful presentations. I also thank the Honorable President of Guyana, His Excellency Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali, for his presence here yesterday and for his inspiring remarks. Madam President, I thank Guyana again for convening this open debate on an issue of great importance titled the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security, especially when we have been experiencing in the last couple of years the impact of conflict on the global food security landscape, which has been further exacerbated by climate change debacle. The multidimensional effects of climate change and food insecurity interacting with economic, social, and political problems often create a high risk of violent conflict, political instability, economic weakness. and large-scale migration. We cannot deny the real risk that climate, food insecurity and conflicts have a direct bearing on international peace and security. And to overcome this challenge, we need to address this interlinked crisis in tandem. Madam President, allow me to highlight a few points in this regard. First, to address food insecurity factors that affect food availability, access and affordability, such as export restrictions, stockpiling, supply chain distortions and climate issues must be addressed. Moreover, strong climate actions on adaptation, mitigation and climate finance are necessary. There is an urgent need for deep, rapid and sustained reductions in greenhouse emissions in line with the 1.5 degree Celsius pathways. We reiterate our call for international cooperation, including South-South cooperation, climate financing and technology transfer to support the vulnerable countries. The development of a food stockholding mechanism for the LDCs, as stipulated in the Doha Program of Action, should also be pursued seriously. Second, the way that food is produced today is also an issue of the climate problem. In the last decade, Bangladeshi scientists have developed 690 improved and high-yielding crop varieties and salinity-tolerant rice varieties. We are now working on developing drought and submergence-tolerant varieties. In this regard, we urge more investment in technical support in various innovative agricultural practices for the developing and least-developing countries. Transforming the global food systems must be at the top of our agenda. We need to rethink how we produce and consume food and how we can contain food loss and wastages. I must say, working in harmony with nature, not against it, is imperative if we are to deliver on food insecurity. Third, as a cross-cutting issue, the peacekeeping missions may have a critical role to help the host countries in dealing with food insecurity and negative impact of climate change, especially when mandate implementation is challenged by environmental degradation and extreme weather events amplified by climate change. For example, in many countries, peacekeeping operations are helping the host authorities tackle the humanitarian consequences of natural disasters and other challenges, such as violence over land, farmer-herder conflict, et cetera. We’re also encouraged to see the momentum created for reducing environmental footprint of the peacekeeping missions, in which my country has been playing an important role as a co-chair of the Group of Friends on Leading Environmental Management in the field, LIF, along with Italy. Fourth, while we are talking about preventive approach to the impact of climate change and food insecurity, strong coordination among the various organs, agencies, and processes of the UN, including the General Assembly, the Kosovo Security Council, FAO, and UNFCCC is necessary, as many of these issues do not strictly fall under the purview of the Security Council. The Council needs to find innovative ways to influence global climate or food security policies. We also emphasize the advisory role of the Peacebuilding Commission, which is a fruitful mechanism in strengthening Council’s engagement on the impact of climate change and food insecurity, which has direct bearing on the maintenance of international peace and security. Fifth and last, we once again denounce the use of starvation as a weapon of war. We deeply regret the failure of the United Nations in ensuring supply of sufficient food and other life-saving items to millions of people in Gaza due to absence of a ceasefire, to which this Council also failed to agree on. I thank you, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Bangladesh for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of South Sudan.

South Sudan:
Good afternoon, Madam President and esteemed delegates. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and congratulate you on pursuing your presidency for the month of February, and I assure you of our delegation’s cooperation with you. I also would like to thank His Excellency, the President, for hosting this important topic, at most for all of us here, because as we convene today, we recognize how the complicated interaction of climate change, food security, and conflict poses intimidating challenges to our collective well-being. I also thank the Secretary-General and all. the experts who have given insightful briefings. Madam President, dear excellencies, our planet faces unprecedented environmental shifts, rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and ecological disturbance affecting our ecosystem and the livelihoods. Simultaneously, food insecurity persists, leaving millions vulnerable to hunger, malnutrition, and displacement. These intertwined crises sound the same across borders, going beyond national boundaries and testing the resilience of international relations. Climate change is a conflict speed up. I state so because climate change disturbs ecosystems where the water resources diminish and arable land becomes scarce. Competition for the vital resources intensifies, often leading to conflict within and between nations. Not only that, it also adds to displacement and migration. Because of the extreme weather events, because the extreme weather forces communities to flee their home, displaced population usually strain the host countries, aggravating the tensions and potentially igniting conflict. Climate change also makes population vulnerable. Makes population vulnerable because food insecure regions are more open to radicalization and recruitment by armed groups. Hopelessness fuel unrest, threatening peace. And climate change also has an impact on the state fragility because food crisis strains economies, diverting, which means the government divert their resources from development and security. And fragile states usually are gribbled with weakened institutions, unable to address both hunger and conflict effectively. Also, it is a huge humanitarian crisis because the conversions of. conflict-induced disaster and food insecurity overwhelms humanitarian response. State capacities erode, leaving vulnerable populations exposed. Climate change knows no boundaries. Droughts, floods, and crops failure ripple across borders, affecting neighboring nations. Disputes over shared resources escalate, often leads to crisis. Madam President, dear excellencies, in this symphony of crisis, the international community must act in one voice to mitigate climate change. Investing in a sustainable agriculture and ensuring food security are not mere policy narratives but also are the keystones of global peace. In South Sudan, as a nation forged through struggle, we face the complexities, the complex dance of climate change. The temperatures have risen over the past decades, which means our climate is warmer and drier. The rainfalls in some of our regions have witnessed decrease, however, other gribbles with frequent, severe floods, as nine out of our ten states are flooded in our three administrative areas. The delicate balance of water to litter in some places and too much in others threaten our stability. The once predictable rhythm of rains has flattered. We have reached a stage where we cannot predict the onset duration, the totals, and the rain we expect anymore. Mind you, this is the very heartbeat of our agriculture cycle. It has become erratic and unpredictable. Our farmers are resilient but weary as they try to adapt to these new changes. In the symphony of changes, South Sudan seeks harmony. We call upon the international community to recognize our vulnerability and join hands in adaptation. Let us plant resilience, nurture hope, and cultivate a future where the children thrive and aims shifting tides to climate. In the case of South Sudan, in the face of diversity, resilience will lose us. Madam President, dear excellencies, as we gather here today, I stand before you as a voice of a resilient nation, a nation that emerges from the stage of struggle, a nation that continues to gribble with interconnected challenges. South Sudan is in a journey towards peace and stability. Once with the intra-act wept of conflict, climate change, and food insecurity, our history bears witness to the scars of conflict infected upon our land, our communities, and our people. The echoes of gunfire still reverberate over our collective memory, yet we remain steadfast in our pursuit of a lasting peace. We call upon this team security council to recognize that peace is not merely the absence of war. It is the foundation upon which prosperity can flourish. Therefore, we are calling on the following actions. Invest in peace. Let us invest in peace building with the same favor that we invest in armaments. Let disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration program be our compass. We seek partnership to heal wounds and reconcile communities and empower women, the unsung architects of peace. Climate resilience. Let’s adapt climate adaption in our lifestyle. We advocate for sustainable agriculture, drought-restrained crops, and water management. Let us plant trees not just for shed, but also to fight against desertification. Humanitarian solidarity. The United Nations mission in South Sudan remains our steadfast ally. It shields our civilian, delivers aid, and facilitates return. But we need more than aid. We need solidarity. Our people deserve dignity and not dependency. Invest in a sustainable peace and development. The United Nations is on the critical stage as the SDGs are running behind. And as we wind up the 78th General Assembly for the Sustainable Development, we are advocating for more attention and action to meet the deadline as the global nations has at hand. Madam President, dear excellencies, we stand before this theme council today with our voices echoing across the chamber as a relentless force of climate change and food insecurities converging upon our nation. South Sudan, a land of resilience and struggle, bears witness to the intertact dance between conflict, hunger, and environmental upheaval. South Sudan remained resilient, but we cannot face the challenges alone. We appeal on the international community to stand with us, recognize that addressing conflict, climate change, and food insecurity requires a collective commitment and decisive action. Let us unite in our efforts to elevate suffering, build resilience, and secure a better future. In this forum, we speak for the multifaceted implication of climate change and food insecurities on peace and security. We heard from the experts, specialized agencies, and countries’ representatives, seeking innovative solutions to mitigate risk and foster stability. In these discussions, we explore how sustainable development, environmental stewardship, and humanitarian efforts interact with the pursuit of global harmony. Let us head the wisdom of our ancestors. A tree does not grow stronger without weathering storms. South Sudan, bettered yet and unyielding, stand ready to weather these storms together with the global community. Let us sow seeds of hope, nurture peace, and harvest a future where no child sleeps hungry. For the people of South Sudan, our resilience is our legacy. Therefore, as we embark on this crucial dialogue, let us recognize that our decision today will be on our meeting rooms. They resonate in conflict zones, refugee camps, and vulnerable communities worldwide. Let us strive for actionable strategies that safeguard both our planet and the delicate fabric of our international relations. Together, we can forge a path together towards a peace and a secure, resilient, and equitable world, the one where climate justice and food security are integral components of lasting peace. I thank you for your kind attention, and may our deliberation yield transformation outcome for our generations to come.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of South Sudan for her statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Belize.

Belize:
Madam President, at the outset, I wish to endorse the statement delivered by Jamaica on behalf of the Caribbean community and to echo the need for the Security Council to take a holistic approach to address the interconnected nature of risks across broader policy responses to promote lasting peace. I will focus on the how. The Security Council has been considering climate change and its impacts on peace and security for well over a decade. Over that period of time and three IPCC cycles, climate change has accelerated, resulting in increasing and worsening widespread adverse impacts across societies and the globe. Climate change does not impact each of us equally. As a small island developing state, Belize knows all too well the plight of those in the most vulnerable situations. From today’s debate and the President’s concept note, the multiplying effect of climate change on food insecurity and wider peace and security concerns is ever more evident and pronounced. That there is a link between climate and security is not a matter of debate. What is in question is the long-standing issue of the role for the Security Council to address these issues, going beyond the perfunctory expressions of concern and ad hoc engagement or approaches. To be clear, Belize sees a distinction between the role of the Security Council and the role of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the latter as primary responsibility for the international framework to limit global warming, build resilience, and respond to loss and damage. Through the UNFCCC, its Kyoto Protocol, and the Paris Agreement, states’ parties undertake to act to prevent dangerous climate change and to ameliorate the adverse impacts through their nationally determined contributions and adaptation and loss and damage plans. The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of peace and security, and accordingly its role is both anticipatory and reactionary. It is well within the purview of the Council to consider the adverse impacts of climate change in its efforts for preventive diplomacy, conflict prevention, and peacebuilding. Already benign attempts have been taken and measures trialed in UN missions, as noted by CARICOM and others. The recent 2023 Statement of Joint Pledges related to climate peace and security, announced by a group of like-minded Council members, also provides additional steps to mainstream climate consideration in the Council’s work. While these initiatives demonstrate a willingness to integrate climate into the Council’s work, they are informal and voluntary. The failure to formally integrate climate into its work can be seen as a significant blind spot for the Council. As the recent IPCC report has concluded, we are in a critical decade. We need scaled-up international cooperation and support and systemic transformation not only to combat climate change but to manage the fallout of its impact. The Council must be a part of this effort. Belize encourages the Security Council members to move toward formalizing the systemic integration of climate considerations into its work and its missions abroad. It can also draw from its experience, for instance, with the Peacebuilding Commission, to likewise formalize its coordination and collaboration across the world. the UN system to share knowledge and expertise on climate change and its relationship to other drivers of conflict, including food insecurity. As well, it should consider the carbon footprint of its activities and ways to mitigate them. Madam President, Belize commends you and other members of the Council for sustaining engagement on these important issues. Guyana, in particular, has played a strong leadership role in our region on agriculture and food security. We are pleased to see you taking that role to another level as a new member of the Security Council. We look forward to your summary of this debate, and we also look forward to the Council’s consideration of how the ideas shared today can be taken forward. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Belize for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan:
Madam President, at the outset, I would like to congratulate the legation of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on assuming the presidency of the Security Council and convening this important open debate to examine the dynamic interrelationships between climate change and food insecurity under the leadership of President of Guyana, His Excellency Mohammed Irfaan Ali. We are grateful to the distinguished briefers for their insightful presentations. Climate change remains the defining challenge of our time, having an alarming effect on societies and ecosystems, disproportionately impacting low-income and fragile countries, affecting livelihoods, underlying vulnerabilities, contributing to instability, and thus underscoring the urgency of concerted and sustained efforts and recommitting to a global vision of sustainable development. In its consensus resolution 77-276, entitled Request for an Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice on the obligations of states in respect of climate change, co-sponsored by my country, the General Assembly recognizes that climate change is an unprecedented challenge of civilizational proportions and that the well-being of present and future generations of humankind depends on our immediate and urgent response to it. Nations and countries worst affected by the challenges of climate change are entitled to much greater support and will look forward to productive proceedings in the World Court and their important outcomes for long overdue climate justice. Climate change and food insecurity are often interconnected, having the potential to impact on levels of security and stability in certain regions or countries. Multilateral cooperation in support of the countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change and have significant capacity constraints, such as the least developed countries and small island developing states, must be among the top priorities of international action and support. As the president of the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Azerbaijan is committed to working inclusively and collaboratively to ensure the success of the conference and will spare no efforts to contribute to the fight against the climate crisis and promoting and strengthening international solidarity. It is noteworthy that the decision to hold COP29 in Azerbaijan was reached in the context of promoting the regional peace agenda. As a practical step, in our national capacity, the President of Azerbaijan, His Excellency and Mr. Hamaliyev has declared year 2024 the Green World Solidarity Year. Azerbaijan has also set an ambitious goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by year 2050 in its nationally determined contributions, in line with the global pledge to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Our top priorities include the renewable energy share increase and the total installed electrical capacity aiming to reach 30 percent by year 2030. This high target is established primarily to improve energy efficiency and to introduce innovative solutions in urban environment, transport systems, and industry. With the end of the 30-year occupation of its territories by Armenia, Azerbaijan has initiated a peace agenda and immediately proceeded to addressing the disastrous consequences of the war on the region’s environment and biodiversity caused by the depredatory exploitation of mineral resources, massive destruction of forests, pollution of water basins, and large-scale mine contamination in the formerly occupied territories. Azerbaijan is currently undertaking extensive post-conflict rehabilitation, reconstruction, and reintegration efforts in its liberated territories. These activities are based on climate-friendly, environmentally clean technologies, as well as smart and green approaches. Azerbaijan is determined to transform these areas into a carbon-neutral zone by year 2050, marked by innovative approaches such as the establishment of green energy zones, sustainable agriculture, eco-friendly transport, smart cities. smart villages, and reforestation programs covering thousands of hectares of land. In conclusion, I would like to emphasize that the challenges facing the world today, including in particular the climate crisis and acute food insecurity, and practical and meaningful solutions and strategies that need to be taken in that regard, necessitate first and foremost strengthened global unity and solidarity, and more effective and trusted multilateralism grounded in the United Nations Charter and international law. I thank you, Madam President.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Azerbaijan for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Israel.

Israel:
Thank you, Madam President. The theme of today’s debate is timely, and Israel welcomes the convening of this important meeting. Israel aligns itself with a growing consensus that the issues of climate change, food insecurity, and peace and security are often linked and intertwined. The connections between them are complex, sometimes making it difficult to separate cause from effect. President, last year we sat in this room and looked towards a brighter future. Under the United Arab Emirates Security Council presidency, we embraced opportunities ahead and emphasized the importance of collaboration in order to address the pervasive effects of climate change. We also discussed the significant risk multiplier that climate change poses, including in the Middle East. We highlighted the need to come together to bring about a shared and brighter future. Today, we reiterate our call to create a future that does not create spaces for terrorist organizations and their hateful narratives to spawn and thrive. This was a future that Dr. Shoshan Haran envisioned. Shoshan, an agricultural expert, has dedicated her life to building and nurturing a sustainable planet and brighter tomorrow for all of us. Shoshan committed herself to helping and empowering impoverished farmers around the world eradicate hunger. She did not discriminate in her work, helping farmers in need, regardless of their national regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity. Over the past decade, FairPlanet, the globally acclaimed MGO that she founded, enabled tens of thousands of farmers to triple their crop yields, increase their income, and break the cycle of poverty and hunger. FairPlanet has so far provided approximately one million people with reliable sources of food and sustainable income. Shoshan’s life-changing work has grown steadily in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Rwanda, and has the potential to positively impact millions more suffering from hunger worldwide. Ideally, this message would end here, asking you to draw inspiration from Dr. Haran’s selfless work and commitment to a better future. But on October 7th, Shoshan was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists. She, along with six members of her family, including her daughter Adi and two of her grandchildren, eight-year-old Naveh and three-year-old Yahel, were dragged at gunpoint to Gaza. Shoshan’s husband, Avshalom, sister Lilach, and brother-in-law, Eviatar, were all brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists. Whilst Shoshan, together with her daughter and grandchildren, was fortunately freed, her son-in-law Tal, along with another 133 hostages, is still being held hostage in Gaza by Hamas. This is Shoshan’s story, but it is also the story of Israel, a country built on the premise of cooperation and helping others. A story that Hamas aimed to destroy on October 7th, but a story that will live on forever nonetheless. Despite the attempts of genocidal terrorists, Israel will never cease being a source of innovation and creativity and a powerhouse for positive impact worldwide. Madam President, The Security Council has been engaged in the security aspects of climate change and food insecurity for years. And there is no doubt that the effects of climate change will play an ever-increasing role in the situations on the agenda of this Council. The Council’s holistic view of security issues should take climate change into account. To do so otherwise would deliberately deny the Council the analytical and policy tools at its disposal. The effectiveness of its work would be constrained. Madam President, in the years following its founding, Israel was a developing country that suffered from chronic food insecurity. An arid country surrounded by multiple threats, Israel recognized the paramount importance of achieving food self-reliance. We set out on a journey of sustainable living, grown by a deep connection to the land and with a clear sense of purpose to make the desert bloom. Today, Israel stands as a pioneering force in agricultural innovation amidst water scarcity, leading the global agri-tech industry and sharing knowledge related to farming in adverse conditions. While Israel was less than a decade old, it established Mashav, its Agency for International Development Cooperation. For over six decades, we have been training experts from developing countries around the world, including from our own region, so that they can return home and educate others on innovative ways to increase production while being more efficient. At the United Nations, Israel is a primary sponsor of a General Assembly resolution on agricultural technology for sustainable development, which enjoys the support of the vast majority of member states. Today, Israel is a pioneer in the development of alternative proteins, which in the coming years will form one of the world’s most crucial strategies to increase food security, help protect the environment and reduce global poverty. Madam President, Israel continues its steadfast position that the Council must engage consistently and deeply with the issue of climate change and how it impacts food insecurity and peace and security worldwide. We will continue to share our best practices to address all aspects of climate change and food insecurity, from adaptation to mitigation, and we appreciate this opportunity to engage with the Council. It is an easy path for member states to participate in meetings such as this, then afterwards return to the status quo. But if there is one takeaway from this meeting, I urge you all to think of the incredible stories of people like Dr. Shoshan Harang, people who, despite unfathomable heartbreak and loss, continue to contribute to the shared vision of a sustainable solution to our climate crisis. We have no alternative. Israel will continue to work with any peace-seeking partner to improve the lives of our people and our shared planet. In doing so, we must not waver in the face of terror and must not allow those trying to divide to further inflict destruction and pain. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Israel for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Haiti.

Haiti:
Thank you, Madam President. Allow me at the outset to welcome the Guyanese Presidency of the Security Council for the month of February 2024. I wish you every success in your work. I would also like to take this opportunity to extend my congratulations on the organization of this high-level debate. The theme selected and the quality of the concept note underscore from the very outset the far-reaching goals of this council and the urgent need to invite us to reflect on these phenomena which concern us all. I would also like to stress that Haiti endorses the statement made by Jamaica on behalf of CARICOM. However, given the relevance of this topic for my country, I would like to make some further comments in my national capacity. Madam President, the impact of climate change and food insecurity on the maintenance of international peace and security is no longer a novel concept, given that the factors at play are obvious and their correlations are very logical. Indeed, these issues are already largely recognized in Security Council Resolution 2417 of 2018 and in other scientific annals that constantly warn us of the devastating consequences of climate change. The periodic calamities suffered by our countries, such as earthquakes, tsunamis, forest fires… fires, droughts, floods, and melting ice, sea level rise, storms, and biodiversity decline, among others, illustrate the difficult reality that millions of people across the five continents must face on a daily basis. The populations affected by these disasters find themselves facing famine and despair, which often leads to an upsurge in crime, insecurity, public protests that destabilize the public order, and internal conflicts as well as conflicts between neighboring countries. However, from the Paris agreement to COP27 in Dubai to the roadmap for global food security, the call to action of May 2022, and of course, not to forget the declaration of the World Summit on Food Security, the road that already traveled by the international community when it comes to this topic is filled with various pledges, commitments, and resolutions that unfortunately are late to bear fruit. In this regard, we recognize the tireless work of the Security Council on this issue. However, we are at a crucial crossroads for action. Sacrificing national economic interests that aggravate global warming together with a better redistribution of wealth and food resources must support the effective application of regulations in order to guarantee the maintenance of international peace and security that we all aspire to achieve. Madam President, my country, the Republic of Haiti, is unfortunately on the list of countries that are seriously mostly affected by food insecurity, in particular acute food insecurity, which affects more than half of the population. The most recent reports on food security in the country are very alarming indeed. For example, the National Office for Food Security in Haiti records some 4.9 million people experiencing food insecurity in the country and requiring urgent assistance. This impact is the consequence of the serious multidimensional crisis experienced by my country, which includes a deteriorating security situation due to armed gangs that operate in a number of areas in the country, in particular in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. It has been clearly shown that food insecurity is linked to the climate of blind violence created by these armed groups, which has a devastating impact on our communities, which cuts off access to food, basic services, and livelihoods. The Government of Haiti recognizes the scope of the crisis, the food crisis, very fully, and the seriousness of the situation. In order to address it, we have resolutely committed to taking concrete measures to alleviate the suffering of the population affected by food insecurity. It should be mentioned here that the food meals program has been reinstated in public schools. We are working with trade unions to provide payments, subsidies for workers that allow them to meet rising costs of living as well. Despite a slight improvement in the number of people facing acute food insecurity in the country, as recognized in the latest report of the Integrated Food Security Phase classification or IPC, more than 44 percent of Haitians are still in a situation of either crisis or emergency. The situation is alarming and requires urgent coordinated action on the part of the international community in order to help the Haitian population break out of this spiral of distress. Madam President, there is no doubt that the food crisis in Haiti requires a comprehensive response based on solidarity. We must address the root causes of this phenomenon. In this regard, we invite our international partners to further support national production and continue providing the necessary support for farmers such as agricultural equipment, seeds, fertilizer, as well as support for agricultural cooperatives. Likewise, reconstruction of infrastructure as well as rebuilding irrigation channels are essential for sustaining agricultural production, which will help reduce the level of food insecurity and address unemployment as well. Along the same lines, we also call on the international community to strengthen its support to facilitate the swift and effective implementation of humanitarian programs. We also ask for additional technical and capacity assistance in order to improve our crisis management capacities and help create a secure and stable environment that would promote the country’s economic recovery. The government is already working in close collaboration with international partners and humanitarian agencies in order to assure the swift and effective implementation of these measures. The Framework Agreement for Cooperation for 2023-2027 signed in April between our government and the UN assistance is at once a vision and a common strategy to achieve sustainable development in Haiti over the next five years. This is therefore a major step forward in the cooperation between the Government of Haiti and the United Nations. In parallel, we must act quickly on the issue of gangs in the country. To address this, we need strong support from the international community in order to support Haiti’s national police. In this regard, we hope that the mission – the deployment of the mission to support security in the country authorized by the Council will become a reality quickly. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
A representative of Haiti for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Georgia.

Georgia:
Thank you, Madam President. At the outset, let me extend our appreciation to the Presidency of Guyana for organizing today’s high-level debate on such an important and at the same time very complex topic. We thank also briefers for their insightful presentations. Georgia aligns itself with the statement delivered by the European Union, and I would like to make additional comments in my national capacity. We fully share the conviction that security risks associated with the impacts of climate change and food insecurity deserve increased attention from the Security Council. The security risks of the climate change have already become a daily reality for many people globally. The consequences of climate change fuel conflicts and further increase the vulnerability of those most at risk. According to the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, approximately 3.3 to 3.6 billion people live in regions highly vulnerable to climate change. At the same time, climate change – and armed conflicts remain the main drivers of hunger and food insecurity, and disrupted food supply chains further aggravate this problem. We have recently faced this issue in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. According to the World Food Programme, 77 million people worldwide continue to suffer from acute food insecurity arising from conflicts. Back in 2015, the international community committed to end hunger in all its forms by 2030, and to ensure food security for everyone. However, to achieve this objective, it is important that the UN Security Council is capable to address ongoing conflicts and prevent new conflicts from emerging. The landmark UN Security Council Resolution 2417, which for the first time addressed the link between conflict and hunger, represents an important step towards preventing food insecurity and addressing the humanitarian needs for millions of civilians trapped in conflict-affected areas. We welcome increased focus of the Security Council on climate change and security nexus, with the creation of an institutional architecture on the issues such as the climate security mechanism and the informal expert group of climate change, peace and security, to advance the climate and security agenda. We believe that the discussion of the impact of climate change on security should be placed on the Security Council’s conflict prevention agenda and become the subject of in-depth analysis. We also appreciate the attention given by the Peacebuilding Commission to climate security and peacebuilding. Excellencies, Georgia has itself experienced the impact of conflict on food security. Around half a million Georgian citizens have been expelled from the occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali regions of Georgia as a result of multiple waves of ethnic cleansing by the Russian Federation. Industrial industry and infrastructure have been completely devastated and ruined. Continued installation of razor wires via fences along the occupation line has a negative impact on the already poor socio-economic conditions on the conflict-affected population and their sense of security, while preventing their access to property, grazing, and farming lands. We once again call on Russia to comply with the EU-mediated ceasefire agreement of 20 August 2008 and withdraw its troops from the occupied regions of Georgia. In conclusion, let me reaffirm Georgia’s readiness to contribute to the collective efforts to address climate crisis and food insecurity, and to minimize their impact on international peace and security. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Georgia for his statement, and I now give the floor to the representative of Armenia.

Armenia:
Madam President, Armenia expresses appreciation to the presidency of Guyana for initiating the present open debate, which provides a good opportunity to look into the wide-ranging consequences of climate change and its adverse impact for human societies in terms of peace and security considerations. We thank the Secretary General and all other briefers for their valuable contributions. The challenges stemming from environmental issues are complex and diverse, increasing the risks and vulnerabilities for global food systems, and posing threats to maintenance of international peace and security, with the use of food resources being increasingly exploited as a tool of coercion in situations of armed conflict. The use of starvation as a method of warfare represents a blatant violation of the international humanitarian law, as does the denial of humanitarian assistance to populations affected by conflict or crisis. In his briefing, the Secretary General emphasized the need for all parties to conflicts to abide by the tenets of the international humanitarian law. Yet we have seen constant violations of these and other humanitarian principles in different corners of the world, including in our region. Notably, we have come to observe the utilization and misappropriation of climate change and environmental agenda in our immediate neighborhood. For many months, Azerbaijan manipulated this ingenious environmental agenda to justify the imposition of a total blockade of a population of 120,000 people in Nagorno-Karabakh, in gross violation of humanitarian law, notwithstanding the order of the International Court of Justice issued in January. I thank the Secretary General and all other briefers for their valuable contributions. in February and reaffirmed in July 2023, which obliged Azerbaijan to, I quote, take all measures at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles, and cargo along the latching corridor in both directions, unquote. Azerbaijan has failed to implement the court’s legally binding order, opting instead for manipulative misinterpretations in order to perpetuate the conditions of a man-made humanitarian crisis. The blockade, which was imposed on the ethnic Armenian community since December 2022, culminated in September last year with the use of deadly military action against civilian population in realization of a criminal goal of conducting ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. We have been consistently alerting the United Nations and this very council that, emboldened by the results of the use of force in the past, Azerbaijan has been seeking to normalize violence and aggression in order to engage in the acquisition of territories by force to impose unilateral solutions and to resolve international disputes through military means.

Azerbaijan:
Azerbaijan’s repeated transgressions, including the armed attacks against Armenia’s territory in May 2021 and September 2022, have led to significant ecological damage. Those acts of aggression have brought about forest fires and land degradations and included an attack against the water reservoir with potentially devastating humanitarian and environmental consequences. Madam President, Azerbaijan continues to justify its unlawful conduct with unfounded landmine accusations, a claim that has been twice rejected by the International Court of Justice. Armenia has made all the possible efforts to revisit and update the information it has in its possession regarding the presence and distribution of landmines in the territories, which for many years have been characterized by a dynamic of shifting control lines, despite being Under no legal obligation to do so, Armenia has recently presented a comprehensive package of the reviewed landmines data as a gesture of goodwill. And we have invited the relevant international partners to participate in the verification of the accuracy of all available information. Madam President, in December 2023, as part of an agreement and as a confidence-building measure, Armenia withdrew its bid to host COP29 and lifted objections for the nomination of Azerbaijan. We know that hosting this major international event on climate climbs with a set of responsibilities and requires a spirit of constructive cooperation. Regrettably, we have come to observe further transgressions and violence contrary to the spirit of agreed arrangements. Only yesterday, the night of 13 February, Azerbaijan conducted an armed attack against the territory of Armenia, which resulted in human losses. Such brazen transgressions demonstrate time and again that Azerbaijan has no intention of complying with the international law, as also evidenced by its constant denial to comply with the eight provisional measures issued by International Court of Justice in the period of 2021-2023. It is incumbent upon the United Nations Security Council, which is entrusted with the maintenance of international peace and security, to take effective measures and to ensure that justice can be served and that breaches to international law can be essentially prevented in the future.

Armenia:
Manifestly, failure to do so only serves the interests of those who seek to undermine the viability of international law and to challenge the integrity and credibility of international legal system. The United Nations has the ultimate responsibility to uphold compliance, ensure justice and accountability, and to fight impunity to the pursuit of which Armenia is fully committed. I thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Armenia for his statement. The representative of Azerbaijan has asked for the floor to make a further statement. I give them the floor.

Azerbaijan:
Madam President, we flatly reject the allegation made by Representative Armenia, which is nothing but another clear manifestation of this country’s post of slander, deception, hatred and territorial claims. This statement was not only relevant to the topic of today’s open debate, but also has it become an illustration of malign intention to mislead the Security Council to cover up Armenia’s provocative policies despite recent developments and confidence-building measures for the normalization of interstate relations. The means and methods of disinformation evidences in the statement by Armenia differ little from those that this country relied on futile attempts to whitewash its glaring misdeeds and mass atrocities. The Representative Armenia also deliberately distorted the ongoing legal process between Azerbaijan and Armenia in the ICJ, for example, omitting to recall the provisional measures adopted by the court in respect to Armenia itself on 7 December 2021. What the Representative Armenia responsibly called the use of deadly military action against civilian population were the local counterterrorism measures taken by Azerbaijan on its sovereign soil in the Karabakh region on 19 and 20 September 2023 against more than 10,000 heavily armored Armenian forces illegally deployed there. Azerbaijan legitimately exercised its inherent right and responsibility to protect its people, to defend its territorial integrity. restore peace and stability in the region, and strictly adhere to the principle of distinction to avoid civilian harm. As to Armenian residents of Karabakh region who decided to relocate, it was their free choice. Also, Azerbaijan encouraged them to stay. Hundreds of local Armenians publicly attested that they had not been forced to leave by Azerbaijan and that it was the unlawful puppet regime that was installed by Armenia in the region that had directed them to leave. As for the recent military provocation by Armenia on the border that resulted in the injury of Azerbaijan border guard, Azerbaijan took countermeasures to eliminate the threat emanating from Armenian military outposts and to deter it from further provocations. Azerbaijan is committed to the peace process and calls the Armenian side to refrain from military provocation that would jeopardize the efforts to that end. Thank you.

President – Guyana:
I thank the representative of Azerbaijan for his statement. There are no more names inscribed on the list of speakers. The meeting is adjourned.