Our world faces increasingly complex threats and risks – and climate change is considered one of the key driving forces. A growing number of experts have shown the general nature of climate related risks and tracked their impact on politics, peace and conflict. Nonetheless there has been limited momentum to formulate policies and approaches to address these risks effectively. This is partly because the indirect risks are still underestimated and poorly understood in mainstream foreign and defence policy circles.

The PSI, launched by The Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to help remedy this problem, by (1) enhancing political awareness of climate-induced risks, (2) involving decision-makers at the climate-security interface, (3) building an inclusive community that is multi-lateral, multi-sector and multi-disciplinary, and (4) creating a regular platform for global cooperation on planetary security. Through bringing together representatives of all levels of governance, academia, civil society, the private sector and the media, the project facilitates the development of effective strategies in order to respond in a coordinated and timely manner to current and future security threats that are caused by environmental changes.

Hence, the topics covered at the conference are broad and range from climate and food security, to adaptation and peacebuilding, to the role of defence and intelligence communities for managing climate risks.

adelphi is part of a consortium of leading think tanks that organise the PSI. This year, adelphi is moderating different workshops, preparing background reports for the initiative and facilitating the community of practice that the PSI brings together at both the annual conference as well as beyond at other important international events and regional consultations.

Keynote speakers:

• Mr. Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
• Ms. Amina J. Mohammed,  Honorable Minister of Environment of Nigeria
• Mr. Dan Smith, Director, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
• Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP Deputy Executive Director & Assistant-Secretary-General of the UN
• TBC: Mr. Jeffrey Sachs, Economist & Director of the Earth Institute
• TBC: Mr. John Kerry, Secretary of State, United States of America
• Ms. Monika Sie Dhian Ho, General Director, the Clingendael Institute
• Ms. Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary, UNCCD

More information on the Planetary Security Initiative can be found here.