On 26 September, Wetlands International Europe hosted a roundtable on the EU’s new outlook on climate and security nexus co-organsied by Water, Peace and Security Partnership and the European Peacebuilding Liason Office
The aim of the meeting was to present the Global Early Warning Tool launched by WPS which provides the initial step in a multi-step process, employing machine-learning to predict conflict over the coming 12 months in Africa, the Middle East, and South and Southeast Asia. It does this on the basis of 15-20 global indicators that serve as model inputs.
The exchange was opened by a keynote speech of the European Special Representative for the Sahel, Emanuela Claudia Del Re and the joint communication focusing on both climate change and environmental degradation (including biodiverist loss) as threats on peace, security and defence was presented by IIna Lietzen, EEAS. This communication recognises that climate change and environmental degradation are intrinsically connected and exacerbating each other.
The EU needs to better integrate the climate, peace and security nexus in the EU’s external policy. As mentioned in the document, it is therefore critically important to continue investing in both climate adaptation and mitigation and in protecting and restoring th environment.
We would add that there is a need to prioritise investment for wetlands conservation and restoration to make them act as tool for peace .
WPS-EPLO-Final2.pdf
downloadPictures