[All-English; scroll down for bilingual, as delivered version]
Let me begin by strongly condemning the cowardly attacks on Sunday against the G5 Sahel forces in Niger and again yesterday against the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, in which seven Togolese peacekeepers lost their lives. An Egyptian peacekeeper also died after being injured in an attack in Mali last month.
I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the victims of these and many other attacks that have taken the lives of so many innocent people.
In these difficult times, I would like to reaffirm my solidarity and the support of the United Nations for the Governments and peoples of the region in their fight against terrorism.
I thank the presidency of the Niger for organizing this timely debate on the links between climate change, conflict and terrorism.
Firstly, I affirm that the climate emergency is the vital issue of our time.
Although some progress was made at the COP26, the objectives are far from being reached.
But we have no choice but to continue our efforts to keep the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius alive.
We are in a race against the clock.
And no one is safe from the destructive effects of climate disruption.
In Somalia, Madagascar, the Sudan, the Middle East and North Africa, droughts and increasingly extreme meteorological phenomena are threatening food security and making access to scarce resources even more difficult.
The World Food Programme estimates that climate change could increase the risk of famine and malnutrition by up to 20 per cent by 2050.
And the World Bank predicts that, in the same time frame, climate change could lead to the displacement of more than 200 million people.
All of this undermines global peace, security and prosperity.
This Council has emphasized this on numerous occasions, including in resolutions on the mandates of five peacekeeping operations and five special political missions.
The regions that are most vulnerable to climate change also suffer from insecurity, poverty, weak governance and the scourge of terrorism.
Of the 15 countries most exposed to climate risks, eight host a United Nations peacekeeping or special political mission.
Climate impacts compound conflicts and exacerbate fragility.
When climate disruption contributes to pressure on institutions and hinders their capacity to provide public services, it fuels grievances and mistrust towards authorities.
When the loss of livelihoods leaves populations in despair, the promises of protection, income and justice — behind which terrorists sometimes hide their true designs — become more attractive.
In the Lake Chad basin region, Boko Haram has been able to gain new recruits, particularly from local communities disillusioned by a lack of economic opportunities and access to essential resources.
In central Mali, terrorist groups have exploited the growing tensions between herders and farmers to recruit new members from pastoralist communities, who often feel excluded and stigmatized.
And environmental degradation enables non-State armed groups to extend their influence and manipulate resources to their advantage.
In Iraq and Syria, for example, Da’esh has exploited water shortages and taken control of water infrastructure to impose its will on communities. In Somalia, charcoal production provides a source of income for Al-Shabaab.
Climate change is not the source of all ills, but it has a multiplier effect and is an aggravating factor for instability, conflict and terrorism.
We must address these challenges in an integrated manner and create a virtuous circle of peace, resilience and sustainable development.
This is why, in my report on Our Common Agenda, I propose a New Agenda for Peace that presents a multidimensional vision of global security.
In line with this integrated approach, I would like to underline five areas where we need to deepen our collective action.
First, we must focus on prevention and address the root causes of insecurity.
Conflicts and terrorism do not take place in a vacuum.
They are the result of deep fractures: poverty, human rights violations, poor governance, the collapse of essential public services, a lack of opportunities for human development and, more broadly, a loss of hope for the future.
To build lasting peace, we must reduce inequalities.
We must protect the most vulnerable people and communities, including women, who are often disproportionately affected.
We must support investment in human development – from health to education to social protection – in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
We must promote inclusive governance, with the full participation of all communities and civil society – including environmental defenders – so that everyone can be part of their country’s future.
And we must leverage local expertise and amplify the voices of women and young people everywhere.
Studies show that when women participate in negotiations, peace is more sustainable. And when they are involved in legislation, they adopt better policies for the environment and social cohesion.
Second, we urgently need to increase our investment in adaptation and resilience.
Annual adaptation costs in developing countries are estimated at $70 billion, and they are expected to reach up to $300 billion a year by 2030.
Developed countries must keep their promise to provide at least $100 billion per year to developing countries for climate action.
And it is essential that at least 50 per cent of climate finance for developing countries is dedicated to strengthening resilience and supporting adaptation.
COP26 sent a positive signal in that direction. I now expect developed countries to fulfil their commitment to double adaptation finance by 2025.
One example is the ambitious Great Green Wall initiative, which is reviving degraded landscapes in the Sahel in order to improve food security, create jobs and promote peacebuilding.
But the financing mechanisms in place must meet the growing needs and be accessible to the most affected populations.
Grant financing is essential, as the most vulnerable countries are already crushed by debt.
At the same time, we must adapt our peacebuilding work to include climate action.
Since 2017, the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund has increased its investments in innovative initiatives that address climate risks.
In Yemen, where water scarcity exacerbated by climate change is contributing to instability, the Fund has supported the restoration and enhancement of local water governance structures in the Wadi Rima valley, which has helped reduce intercommunal tensions.
Unfortunately, the Fund is still far from reaching the critical mass that would enable it to help governments and societies more systematically in addressing the risks of complex conflicts.
Third, we need better analysis and early-warning systems.
Every conflict-prevention initiative must take into account climate risks.
Understanding and anticipating the cascading effects of climate change will strengthen our work on peace and security.
A third of the global population lacks early warning systems.
As discussed with our partners during the African Union-United Nations conference, the AU and other regional organizations are leading the way in making early warning mechanisms operational.
We also need to build on existing expertise in disaster risk reduction and integrate climate risk into all economic and financial decisions.
At the United Nations, the Climate Security Mechanism is strengthening the capacity of field missions, country teams and regional and subregional organizations to analyze climate-related security risks and shape integrated and timely responses.
Which brings me to my fourth point: the development of partnerships and initiatives linking local, regional and national approaches.
We must make the best use of on-the-ground expertise, while drawing on the political, technical and financial capacities of regional and international actors.
The “Regional strategy for the stabilization, recovery and resilience of the Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad basin region” is a good example. Jointly developed by the African Union, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the United Nations and other partners, the strategy integrates humanitarian action, security, development and climate resilience.
The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel has launched, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Environment Programme, a new initiative on climate change, security and development in West Africa.
This initiative promotes an integrated and coordinated approach to climate security in the region and supports the Economic Community of West African States, governments and local authorities in their risk-reduction efforts.
And we must continue supporting the work of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel through the United Nations Support Plan, which aims to strengthen cooperation and address the structural problems – such as poverty, underdevelopment and governance challenges – that make the region more vulnerable to conflict.
Lastly, fighting terrorism and conflict in a context of climate disruption requires sustained investment.
Yet, as we have seen in the Sahel and Somalia, African peace missions often have limited room to maneuver and are faced with great funding uncertainties.
Now more than ever, African Union peace support operations require Security Council mandates, under Chapter VII of the Charter, and predictable funding guaranteed by assessed contributions. I urge you to consider this matter again as soon as possible.
The Security Council and all Member States must work – simultaneously – on peacebuilding and on the effects of climate change.
The United Nations is proud to stand with you to build a safer and more sustainable future for all.
Thank you.
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[Bilingual, as delivered version]
Permettez-moi de commencer par condamner fermement les attaques lâches perpétrées dimanche contre les forces du G5 Sahel au Niger et hier encore contre la Mission multidimensionnelle intégrée des Nations Unies pour la stabilisation au Mali, attaque au cours de laquelle sept Casques bleus togolais ont perdu la vie. Un Casque bleu égyptien a également succombé aux blessures subies lors d'une attaque au Mali le mois dernier.
Je présente mes condoléances les plus attristées aux familles des victimes de ces attaques et de beaucoup d’autres qui ont couté la vie à tant de personnes innocentes.
En ces temps difficiles, je voudrais réaffirmer ma solidarité et le soutien de l’Organisation des Nations Unies aux gouvernements et aux peuples de la région dans leur lutte contre le terrorisme.
Je remercie la présidence nigérienne d'avoir organisé ce débat très opportun sur les liens entre le changement climatique, les conflits et le terrorisme.
Premiérement, je veux affirmer que l'urgence climatique est l’enjeu vital de notre époque.
Si la COP26 a permis certaines avancées, les objectifs sont loin d’être atteints.
Mais nous n’avons d’autre choix que de poursuivre nos efforts pour maintenir en vie l'objectif de limiter la hausse de la température mondiale à 1,5 degré.
Car nous sommes dans une course contre la montre.
Et personne n’est à l’abri des effets destructeurs du dérèglement climatique.
Ainsi, en Somalie, à Madagascar, au Soudan, au Moyen Orient ou en Afrique du Nord, des sécheresses et des phénomènes météorologiques de plus en plus extrêmes durcissent l’accès à des ressources rares et menacent la sécurité alimentaire.
Le Programme alimentaire mondial des Nations Unies estime que le changement climatique pourrait augmenter le risque de famine et de malnutrition de près de 20 % d’ici 2050.
Et la Banque Mondiale prévoit qu’au même horizon, il pourrait entrainer le déplacement de plus de 200 millions de personnes.
Tout cela bouleverse la paix, la sécurité et la prospérité mondiales.
Ce Conseil l’a souligné à de nombreuses reprises, y compris dans le cadre des résolutions portant sur les mandats de cinq opérations de maintien de la paix et de cinq missions politiques spéciales.
Car bien souvent, les régions les plus vulnérables au changement climatique souffrent également d’insécurité, de pauvreté, d’une faible gouvernance et du fléau du terrorisme.
Sur les 15 pays les plus exposés aux risques climatiques, huit accueillent une mission de maintien de la paix ou une mission politique spéciale des Nations unies.
Les effets du climat se superposent aux conflits et exacerbent les fragilités.
Lorsque le dérèglement climatique contribue à la pression sur les institutions et entrave leur capacité à fournir des services publics, il alimente les griefs et la méfiance à l'égard du pouvoir.
Lorsque la perte des moyens de subsistance laisse les populations dans le désespoir, cela rend plus séduisantes les promesses de protection, de revenus et de justice derrière lesquelles les groupes terroristes dissimulent parfois leurs desseins.
Dans le bassin du lac Tchad, Boko Haram a pu mobiliser de nouvelles recrues, notamment au sein des communautés locales désabusées par l'absence de perspectives économiques et d'accès aux ressources essentielles.
Dans le centre du Mali, les groupes terroristes ont exploité les tensions croissantes entre éleveurs et agriculteurs pour recruter des membres dans les communautés pastorales, qui se sentent souvent exclues et stigmatisées.
Et la dégradation de l'environnement permet aux groupes armés non étatiques d'étendre leur influence et de manipuler les ressources à leur avantage.
En Irak et en Syrie, par exemple, Daesh a exploité les pénuries d'eau et pris le contrôle d’infrastructures hydrauliques pour imposer sa volonté aux communautés. En Somalie, la production de charbon de bois par Al-Shabaab est également une source importante de revenus.
Le changement climatique n’est pas la source de tous les maux, mais il constitue un effet multiplicateur et devient un facteur aggravant de l’instabilité, des conflits et du terrorisme.
Nous devons aborder ces défis de manière intégrée et créer un cercle vertueux de paix, de résilience et de développement durable.
C’est pourquoi mon rapport sur Notre programme commun propose un Nouvel agenda pour la paix qui présente une vision multidimensionnelle de la sécurité mondiale.
Dans cette logique d’approche intégrée, je voudrais m’attarder sur cinq domaines dans lesquels nous devons approfondir notre action collective.
Premièrement, nous devons mettre l'accent sur la prévention et nous attaquer aux causes profondes de l'insécurité.
Les conflits ou le terrorisme n’ont pas lieu dans un vase clos.
Ils sont le résultat de fractures profondes : pauvreté, violation des droits humains, mauvaise gouvernance, effondrement des services publics essentiels, manque de perspectives de développement humain – et plus largement, la perte d'espoir en l’avenir.
Pour bâtir une paix durable, nous devons réduire les inégalités.
Nous devons protéger les personnes et les communautés les plus vulnérables, notamment les femmes, qui sont touchées de manière disproportionnée.
Nous devons soutenir les investissements dans le développement humain – de la santé à l'éducation, en passant par les protections sociales – afin d’atteindre les Objectifs de développement durable d'ici 2030.
Nous devons favoriser une gouvernance inclusive, avec la pleine participation de toutes les communautés et de la société civile – y compris des défenseurs de l’environnement – afin que chacun puisse faire partie de l’avenir de son pays.
Et partout, nous devons tirer parti des savoir-faire locaux et amplifier la voix des femmes et des jeunes.
Les études montrent que lorsque les femmes participent aux négociations, la paix est plus durable ; lorsqu’elles participent à la législation, elles adoptent des politiques plus favorables à l'environnement et à la cohésion sociale.
Deuxièmement, nous devons de toute urgence accroître nos investissements dans l'adaptation et la résilience.
Les coûts annuels d’adaptation dans les pays en développement sont estimés à 70 milliards de dollars, et ils devraient atteindre jusqu’à 300 milliards de dollars par an d’ici à 2030.
Les pays développés doivent tenir leur promesse de fournir au moins 100 milliards de dollars de financement climatique par an au pays en développement.
Et il est essentiel qu’au moins cinquante pour cent du financement climatique pour les pays en développement soit consacré au renforcement de la résilience et de l’adaptation.
La COP26 a envoyé un signal positif en ce sens – j’attends maintenant que les pays développés mettent en œuvre leur engagement de doubler le financement pour l’adaptation d’ici à 2025.
Par exemple à travers des initiatives ambitieuses telles que la Grande Muraille Verte, qui redonne vie aux paysages dégradés du Sahel afin d'augmenter la sécurité alimentaire, créer des emplois et promouvoir la consolidation de la paix.
Mais les mécanismes de financement existants doivent correspondre aux besoins et être accessibles aux populations les plus touchées.
Les subventions sont essentielles, car le fardeau de la dette écrase déjà les pays les plus vulnérables.
Dans le même temps, nous devons adapter notre travail de consolidation de la paix à l’action climatique.
Depuis 2017, le Fonds des Nations unies pour la consolidation de la paix a augmenté ses investissements dans des initiatives innovantes qui tiennent compte des risques climatiques.
Ainsi, au Yémen, où la pénurie d'eau aggravée par le changement climatique contribue à l'instabilité, le Fonds a soutenu la restauration et le renforcement des structures locales de gouvernance de l'eau dans la vallée de Wadi Rima, ce qui a contribué à réduire les tensions intercommunautaires.
Malheureusement, le Fonds est encore loin d'avoir atteint le volume critique qui lui permettra d’aider plus systématiquement les gouvernements et les sociétés à faire face aux risques de conflits complexes.
Third, we need better analysis and early-warning systems.
Every conflict-prevention initiative must take into account climate risks.
Understanding and anticipating the cascading effects of climate change will strengthen our work on peace and security.
A third of the global population lacks early warning systems.
As discussed with our partners during the African Union-United Nations conference, the AU and other regional organizations are leading the way in making early warning mechanisms operational.
We also need to build on existing expertise in disaster risk reduction and integrate climate risk into all economic and financial decisions.
At the United Nations, the Climate Security Mechanism is strengthening the capacity of field missions, country teams and regional and subregional organizations to analyze climate-related security risks and shape integrated and timely responses.
Which brings me to my fourth point: the development of partnerships and initiatives linking local, regional and national approaches.
We must make the best use of on-the-ground expertise, while drawing on the political, technical and financial capacities of regional and international actors.
The “Regional strategy for the stabilization, recovery and resilience of the Boko Haram-affected areas of the Lake Chad basin region” is a good example. Jointly developed by the African Union, the Lake Chad Basin Commission, the United Nations and other partners, the strategy integrates humanitarian action, security, development and climate resilience.
The United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel has launched, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Environment Programme, a new initiative on climate change, security and development in West Africa.
This initiative promotes an integrated and coordinated approach to climate security in the region and supports the Economic Community of West African States, governments and local authorities in their risk-reduction efforts.
And we must continue supporting the work of the Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel through the United Nations Support Plan, which aims to strengthen cooperation and address the structural problems – such as poverty, underdevelopment and governance challenges – that make the region more vulnerable to conflict.
Lastly, fighting terrorism and conflict in a context of climate disruption requires sustained investment.
Yet, as we have seen in the Sahel and Somalia, African peace missions often have limited room to maneuver and are faced with great funding uncertainties.
Now more than ever, African Union peace support operations require Security Council mandates, under Chapter VII of the Charter, and predictable funding guaranteed by assessed contributions. I urge you again to consider this matter again as soon as possible.
The Security Council and all Member States must work – simultaneously – on peacebuilding and on the effects of climate change.
The United Nations is proud to stand with you to build a safer and more sustainable future for all.
Thank you. Je vous remercie.