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Climate Security Dialogues

1 May 2011 - 1 November 2011
Berlin, Germany

The Climate Security Dialogues were created in cooperation with the KlimaCampus and Research Group Climate Change and Security (CLISEC) at the University of Hamburg as a forum to discuss the impacts of a shifting climate in times of political, economic and demographic transformation.

Recognising that the transfer of scientific knowledge is crucial for the policy community and for evidence-based decision-making, the dialogues aimed to bridge the science – policy gap, and promote concrete cooperation at the regional level:

 

Dialogue on Climate Change in the Southern Mediterranean: The Water-Food-Energy-Migration Complex

The Southern Mediterranean region encompasses Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey. Key climate change challenges in the region include increasing water scarcity, desertification and the degradation of fertile soils, which are exacerbated by high population growth and a steadily rising demand for energy and natural resources.
In May 2011, experts on food security, water, energy and applied economics from Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Palestine met to exchange perspectives on the  potential effects of climate change on migratory flows, water, food and energy, as well as response mechanisms in the region.
Water scarcity, droughts and inadequate water governance already contribute to conflicts and population displacements. In Tunisia, for example, this causes competition among different parts of the country and between industrial and domestic consumption. Recommendations by the regional experts included encouraging the integration of climate change into existing regional initiatives and agreements on shared water resources, as well as fostering their transparent management.

The Report is available.

 

Dialogue on Climate Change in Latin America: Addressing Food and Water Security Risks

Latin America encompasses the countries of Central and South America as well as Mexico and the Caribbean. Large geographic and ecological sub-regions (the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, the Andes and the Amazon region) are hotpots where climate change will hit severely. In September 2011, adelphi convened natural scientists in geography, meteorology and hydrology, along with civil society experts from Argentina, Mexico, Peru and Colombia to meet with social scientists and members of the foreign, development and security policy communities from Germany and other European countries. Natural resources play a key role in the region. Resource competition among different sectors is likely to be accentuated as shared resources, such as water for energy security and agriculture, become scarcer. The onset of new, and exacerbation of existing socio-environmental conflicts seem likely. The key messages by the group of experts focused on the need for more consultation of different social groups and for strengthening the knowledge base for addressing climate change and planning adaptation measures in the region.

The Report is available in English and Spanish.

 

Dialogue on Climate Change in Central Asia: Interlinkages between Water and Energy Security Trends

The Central Asian region stretches over Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Central Asia will be severely affected by climate change, particularly through water scarcity and related impacts on energy security. Experts from the region on integrated water resource management, transboundary water management and development met with academics and members of the security and foreign policy communities from Germany. The experts highlighted the need to improve resource efficiency and effective coordination to address climate change challenges.
Because the ability of existing institutions to accommodate local disputes over water is limited, these could potentially lead to built-up frictions among the five Central Asian countries. Recommendations included to go beyond a single-sector approach and gradually involve Afghanistan – which plays a key role for water security in Central Asia – in cooperation mechanisms.

The Report is available.

 

Dialogue on Climate Change in South Asia: Conflict or Cooperation over the Himalayas?

South Asia extends across Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The region – in particular the glacial areas of the Himalayas – will be significantly affected by climate change. Decreased availability of natural resources and an increasing number and intensity of natural disasters will be the main challenges. The dialogue drew from the insights of regional experts on climate, water, security, and meteorology, who met with decision-makers, academics, and representatives of civil society organisations and think tanks from Germany and other European countries. In the Himalayan sub-region, food, energy and water are closely interlinked. The sub-region is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, in particular due to the effects on wetlands. If these crucial elements of the overall regional ecosystem are damaged, a vital link in flood warning and protection against floods may be lost.

The Report is available.