Translating Mandates into Policy and Practice: Emerging lessons from operationalizing climate-related security risks in peace operations
On 26 March, the International Peace Institute (IPI), the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) hosted a virtual expert-level dialogue. Under the title “Translating Mandates into Policy and Practice: Emerging lessons from operationalizing climate-related security risks in peace operations and peacebuilding”, the dialogue brought together participants from United Nations member states, mission personnel as well as experts from Department of Peace Operations (DPO), Department for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA), the UN Development Programme and UN Environment Programme, as well as the Executive Office of the Secretary General, to discuss emerging lessons from operationalizing climate-related security risks in peace operations and peacebuilding.
The meeting was kicked off with presentations by Guang Cong, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General (Political) to the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Christophe Hodder, UN Environmental Advisor to Somalia. The subsequent discussion explored the lessons learned from operationalizing peace operation mandates that refer to climate-related security risks in Somalia, South Sudan and Afghanistan. Participants shared reflections on existing challenges, identified existing tools and approaches for analysis and programming, explored what successful responses would look like and how to measure them, and offered ideas on whether additional capacities, authorities or partnerships are required to meet ambitions.
The meeting was organized against the backdrop that both UN peacekeeping operations and special political missions are increasingly tasked by the Security Council to consider and respond to climate-related security risks.
For more information on NUPI’s work in the area of Climate, Peace and Security, see: https://www.nupi.no/en/projects-centers/climate-related-peace-and-security-risks