Noting that climate change constitutes a decisive global challenge which, if not urgently managed, will put at risk not only the environment but also world economic prosperity, development and, more broadly, stability and security, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted a set of conclusions on 24 June to further mainstream climate diplomacy into EU and Member States' priority agendas. The aim is to help mobilising the necessary political will globally in support of an ambitious climate agreement in 2015 and more effective climate action on the ground.
The adoption of renewed Council conclusions on EU climate diplomacy and the lively debate among ministers underlined the high degree of consensus among MemberStates, the HR/VP and Commission on the relevance and urgency to strategically address climate change, including its security dimension. Indeed, climate change affects and increasingly shapes policy agendas and outcomes in the economic and security fields, a fact reflected in unequivocal policy reports of international institutions including the World Bank, IMF and the OECD but also, consistently, in reports of the intelligence and security community.
Global climate action is picking up speed as more than 90 countries representing all together more than 80% of global emissions, have already decided to undertake domestic emissions reductions. However, ministers noted with concern that today's global ambition level is still far from sufficient to limit global average temperature increases to less than 2°C from the pre-industrial level and avoid the devastating consequences of current emission trends, if left unchecked. More political lobbying for climate ambition is urgently needed.
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Ten years after committing to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, G20 countries still subsidise coal, oil and gas to the tune of around USD 150 billion annually. Peer review of fossil fuel subsidies help push the G20 forward on this issue, but these reviews need to be followed by action. Subsidy reforms could free up resources that could be channeled back into government programmes and on accelerating a clean energy transition.
Adapting to climate change and strengthening resilience are becoming priorities for the international community – however, they require greater ambition in climate policy. 107 governments and numerous international organisations have endorsed a call for action on raising ambition at the United Nations Climate Change Summit on 23rd September 2019. Following the summit, the Global Commission on Adaptation will begin its Year of Action to meet the climate challenges ahead. The Year of Action is here to accelerate climate adaptation around the world, to improve human well-being and to drive more sustainable economic development and security.
A new form of organized crime has recently been emerging in the Amazon: illegal mining. Miners fell trees, use high-grade explosives for blasting soils and dredge riverbeds. But the impacts go beyond environmental damage, bringing with it a slew of other social problems. Peace researcher Adriana Abdenur urges policymakers to improve coordination and argues that diplomacy may help prevent further conflicts, corruption and crime.
Access to water can be a critical resource for cooperation, but also a source of tension. Identifying risks before their onset is crucial for the efficiency and economic feasibility of intervention strategies, but how can these risks be measured? To address this conundrum, adelphi together with several partners convened a side-event at World Water Week, which connected experts developing analytical tools to policy makers in the water sector.