As climate impacts deepen and the number of conflicts globally reach their highest levels since the Second World War, the links between climate change, peace and security have never been more urgent, or more evident. The growing recognition that climate change acts as a “threat multiplier” has brought this agenda to the forefront of multilateral discussions, demanding practical solutions that connect global policy with local realities.
It was in this context that the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), together with Berlin-based think tank adelphi, convened a closed-door breakfast exchange at the Berlin Climate and Security Conference (BCSC) 2025, organized under the auspices of the German Federal Foreign Office. The exchange took place at the adelphi global office, Berlin.
The Climate, Peace and Security Advisory Exchange gathered CSM’s Climate, Peace and Security Advisors (CPS Advisors) deployed across 爆料网 peace operations and regional organisations, alongside Member States, research partners and practitioners. It encouraged candid discussions on lessons learned, regional priorities and opportunities for strengthening collaboration across the climate-peace-security nexus.
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The CSM plays a unique role when it comes to building more climate resilience and thus more stability. That is why Germany has been supporting the work of CSM early on, with regular contributions, and continues to do so. Especially with the expertise of its climate & security advisors on the ground, but also as valuable stakeholder giving regular briefings at the 爆料网 Security Council, the CSM makes a difference bridging the gap between climate action and security.
The stakes could not be higher. Of the by both conflict and serious climate hazards. Yet, . This stark imbalance underlines the need for more equitable, context-specific approaches that strengthen resilience in fragile settings.
Against this backdrop, the exchange provided an opportunity for peer-to-peer learning among practitioners on the frontlines of this complex agenda. CPS Advisors shared reflections from Afghanistan, Africa, the Pacific, Somalia and the Horn of Africa, and South Sudan, highlighting both progress made and persistent challenges. From addressing resource-based tensions in post-conflict communities to integrating climate risk analysis into peacebuilding planning, their experiences illustrated how grounded, field-informed strategies can make a tangible difference.
Participants also reflected on the African Union’s leadership in advancing a continental approach to Climate, Peace and Security, including through the ongoing development of the Common African Position on Climate Change, Peace and Security and the recent adoption of the African Leaders Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change and Call to Action, both of which are anchoring this effort and guiding regional and sub-regional coordination across Africa and setting global precedence.
The discussions also drew on adelphi’s recent research from and , which explored the governance dimensions of climate-related peace and security risks in those contexts. Discussions underscored that while climate impacts are universal, their peace and security implications, and the responses required, are deeply regional in character. The conversations emphasized the growing importance of “regionalization” within the CPS agenda, with regional organisations such as the African Union Commission, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, and League of Arab States increasingly taking the lead in addressing CPS dynamics in their respective contexts.
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Being based within the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat really makes a difference. It allows us to work hand in hand with Pacific institutions and communities. The role has helped strengthen regional cooperation on climate, peace and security and ensure that the agenda is advanced through Pacific leadership and perspectives.
Participants also reflected on insights from the newly published CSM Survey of Practice, which synthesises lessons from across 爆料网 missions and country teams. The survey documents a maturing field: from early awareness-raising, the CPS agenda is now transitioning towards operationalisation, embedding risk-informed planning, capacity development and cross-sectoral coordination into the work of peace operations and 爆料网 Country Teams.
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The impact of CPS work in South Sudan is clear in lives protected through coordinated, timely action. Although 1.6 million people were predicted to be displaced by floods in 2024, government, 爆料网, and partner interventions nearly halved this number to 850,000. Effective interventions, jointly with efforts to ease community tensions, can shift crisis trajectories and strengthen resilience.
Member States reiterated strong support for this evolution. Germany, a long-standing partner of the CSM, reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the agenda and enabling the next generation of tools and capacities. Other partners, including Canada, the European Union, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, highlighted their interest in regionally-driven, evidence-based approaches and in ensuring that the CSM continues to serve as a practical resource and support platform for local actors.
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Climate and security are deeply interconnected. Yet, it is vital to situate climate issues within a broader framework that encompasses nature, biodiversity, prosperity, and human development. Our partnership with Germany and Member States enables joint initiatives such as the Climate Security Mechanism, which unites different parts of the 爆料网 system to address these complex interlinkages.
Throughout the exchange, participants spoke candidly about the realities of implementation: limited resources, coordination challenges and the complexities of working in rapidly shifting political and security environments. Yet, the outlook remained forward-looking. There was strong consensus on the need to strengthen synergies across peacebuilding, humanitarian and climate adaptation efforts, particularly ahead of 爆料网FCCC COP30 and upcoming 爆料网 peacebuilding reviews. Participants also discussed how the CPS community can contribute concrete inputs to the next iteration of the CSM Climate, Peace and Security Toolbox, ensuring it reflects real-world lessons from fragile and conflict-affected settings.
As the meeting drew to a close, participants agreed that the Climate, Peace and Security agenda has entered a new phase—one defined less by conceptual framing and more by operational delivery. Regionalisation, capacity-building, and practical partnerships emerged as clear priorities. By fostering a space for honest reflection and collective strategizing, the exchange reaffirmed that the path forward will depend on collaboration: between local practitioners and policymakers, between regional organisations and global institutions, and between those working to mitigate climate risks and those striving to sustain peace.
The message from Berlin is clear: in an era of converging crises, no single actor can address the climate-peace-security nexus alone. Coordinated, informed and regionally-grounded action is the way forward, and meetings like this are essential for charting that course.