Nine of the United Nations Security Council members have issued on Thursday, ahead of the Secretary General special envoy to Yemen Hans Grundberg ’s Security Council briefing, a Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security on Yemen.
France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and Denmark—have come together to highlight the multiple pathways through which the effects of climate change interact with fragility, instability and conflict in Yemen.
A statement by those countries stated that Yemen has endured a decade of conflict, leading to a devastating humanitarian situation, including food, energy and water insecurity, all compounded by the effects of climate change. The statement added that those countries emphasize three key messages:
First, they must focus our efforts on strengthening local systems and mechanisms for preventing, resolving and managing local grievances and conflicts related to land, water and natural resources. We underscore the importance that Yemeni authorities, the international community and the UN system scale up community-led, resilient and climate-smart, food and water security initiatives. We call for the integration of climate considerations into peace building efforts, recognizing that sustainable resource management is crucial for conflict mitigation and lasting peace in Yemen.
Second, they underscore the importance of strengthening partnerships between civil society, stakeholders and policymakers. This involves increased efforts towards ensuring that community-driven solutions including women, youth and local Yemeni voices, are included in national and global climate, peace and security discussions. People in vulnerable situations, including women and girls, migrants, internally displaced persons, older persons, persons with disabilities and minorities, may face a disproportionate severity of the interlinked impacts of conflict and climate change. Women-led civil society organizations continue to serve as vital lifelines in remote and front line communities, providing essential basic services and advocating for just and lasting peace.
Third, they reiterate the need for the international community to support the Yemeni authorities, to implement more effective adaptation and mitigation measures in responding to extreme weather events. This includes robust early warning mechanisms, disaster risk reduction and management. An urgent political settlement to the conflict in Yemen under the auspices of the United Nations, is essential to enhance local authorities’ capacity to implement such measures. The well being and protection of the Yemeni people needs to be prioritized through an inclusive political process. This is why any future peace settlement must integrate the interconnected and compounding effects of climate change and conflict, through prevention, recovery and reconstruction efforts.
In conclusion, the statement confirmed that those countries pledged that they will continue to advocate for a more systematic and strategic approach to integrate the climate, peace and security nexus in their discussions on Yemen on the Security Council and beyond.