The event was chaired by Minister of Climate Change and Environment Mariam Almheiri of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) – the UNSC Chair in June.
Ambassador Giang said climate change is a multidimensional challenge that impacts the environment, economy and society, while also acting as an amplifier of risks to global peace and security. It potentially exacerbates tensions in conflict-affected areas, create conditions for the development of terrorism, and affect the livelihoods and well-being of people, particularly women and children. Climate change can also disrupt food security and water resources, and in extreme cases, lead to international conflicts due to competition for scarce resources.
He affirmed that the UNSC, with its responsibility to maintain global peace and security, needs to continue promoting its climate change agenda.
The UNSC should adopt a comprehensive approach to addressing the root causes of conflicts, striking a balance between traditional and non-traditional security challenges, and incorporating climate change risk analysis into the functions and mandates of peacekeeping and special political missions, he said, adding that the UNSC should support and work closely with relevant mechanisms such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Paris Agreement while enhancing cooperation with national and regional climate change initiatives to effectively and appropriately respond to emerging issues and situations.
Reiterating Vietnam's recommendations at the UNSC to establish a comprehensive database on the multidimensional impacts of climate change, Giang vowed to continue actively joining in discussions and initiatives related to climate change, including the UN Climate Ambition Summit and the COP-28 in the UAE later this year.
Delegates at the event said nine out of 16 countries most vulnerable to climate change are facing conflicts and require the presence of the UN peacekeeping or special political missions.
Opinions emphasised the need to further leverage the role of the UNSC and enhance the capacity of the UN missions to better assess the security risks posed by climate change. This would serve as a basis for the UNSC to address conflicts more effectively and build peace.
