The Spanish version of the Exhibition Environment, Conflict and Cooperation (ECC) that includes a specific module on South America is currently shown in Chile in cooperation with the NGO Fundación Terram. During 9-20 May, the Exhibition was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Chile. The launch event on 10 May was attended by over a hundred participants: foreign policy, defence and environmental decision makers from Chile, representatives of several Latin American countries, Germany and USA, as well as members of Chilean and international civil society.
The event drew attention to the fact that Chile is a country highly vulnerable to impacts of climate change both due to geographical factors and the economic dependence on extractive industries. The speeches also highlighted the role of diplomacy and international cooperation.
Eduardo Gálvez, Director of Foreign Policy, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, offered an opening speech on national and international climate change policies, proclaiming “the beginning of the end of fossil fuel based economy” and highlighting the importance of shifting development on a sustainable path. The German Ambassador in Santiago de Chile Rolf Schulze underlined that a sustainable transition required structural changes around the world in order to face climate challenges. Waldemar Coutts, Director of Environment and Maritime Affairs at the MFA, noted the importance of supporting environmental democracy and climate justice. Flavia Liberona, Director of Fundación Terram, maintained that public policies in Chile urgently need to tackle the challenges of climate change and the extractivist economic model, integrating both local demands and international obligations.
From 31 May to 3 June 2016, the Exhibition was shown at the National Congress of Chile in Valparaíso, supported by Deputy Vlado Mirosevic and Senator Antonio Horvath.
The Exhibition highlights various impacts of environmental degradation and the growing scarcity of natural resources: as a threat to human security and economic and political stability, as a cause of tensions and conflicts between social and political groups, and as a cause of violent conflicts. It also explores ways and means for environmental cooperation to serve as an instrument of conflict prevention and peacebuilding.
A press release on the event at the MFA is available on the webpage of Fundación Terram. To read more about the Exhibition at the Congress, please visit the website of the Chilean Chamber of Deputies (both in Spanish).
At a briefing ahead of the COP25, foreign minister Heiko Maas called for higher ambition for the European Union, which should act as a role-model to encourage other states to boost their commitments to climate action. He further reiterated the importance of supporting multilateralism and an international climate regime that is able to withstand setbacks, such as the US withdrawal of the Paris Agreement.
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The new study Shoring up Stability demonstrates, for the first time, how climate change interacts with conflict and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in the Lake Chad region. To launch the report and discuss its findings with local policy-makers, experts and practitioners, the German Embassy in Niger, adelphi and CNESS co-organised a launch event on 24 October in Niamey. Insights from Niger point to the importance of investing in governance rather than technical fixes.