S/PV.6587 (Resumption 1)
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United Nations S/PV.6587 (Resumption 1) Security Council Provisional Sixty-sixth year 6587th meeting Wednesday, 20 July 2011, 3 p.m. New York President: Mr. Wittig ...................................... (Germany) Members: Bosnia and Herzegovina ........................... Ms. Hodžić Brazil ......................................... Mr. Vargas China ......................................... Ms. Li Xinyan Colombia ...................................... Mr. Osorio France ......................................... Ms. Guilloteau Gabon ......................................... Mr. Mandoukou Ombegue India .......................................... Mr. Kumar Lebanon ....................................... Mr. Jaber Nigeria ........................................ Mrs. Aguwa Portugal ....................................... Mr. Madureira Russian Federation ............................... Mr. Maksimychev South Africa .................................... Mr. Ngculu United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland .... Ms. Davison United States of America ........................... Mr. Cenzer Agenda Maintenance of international peace and security Impact of climate change Letter dated 1 July 2011 from the Permanent Representative of Germany to the United Nations addressed to the Secretary-General (S/2011/408) This record contains the text of speeches delivered in English and of the interpretation of speeches delivered in the other languages. The final text will be printed in the Official Records of the Security Council. Corrections should be submitted to the original languages only. They should be incorporated in a copy of the record and sent under the signature of a member of the delegation concerned to the Chief of the Verbatim Reporting Service, room U-506. 11-42397 (E) *1142397* S/PV.6587 (Resumption 1) The meeting resumed at 3.10 p.m. impact on food security, which is at the same time inextricably linked with water security. The President: I once again wish to remind all With the onset of climate change and the speakers to limit their statements to no more than four increasing number of natural disasters, the link minutes in order to enable the Council to carry out its between the environment and security is hard to work expeditiously. dispute. Already in 1987, the Brundtland report I now give the floor to the representative of (A/42/427, annex), which coined the term sustainable Slovenia. development, also highlighted environmental degradation as a key factor in creating insecurity. The Ms. Štiglic (Slovenia): Allow me first to thank report also recognized that environmental stress was Germany for organizing this important open debate. I seldom the only cause of major conflicts but played an also wish to thank Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and important part in causality associated with any conflict. the Executive Director of the United Nations Today, we generally regard climate change as a threat Environment Programme for their remarks on this multiplier, a root cause or an underlying cause of serious and timely topic. instability and vulnerability. Careful consideration of Slovenia also welcomes the participation of the those implications can help strengthen conflict President of the Republic of Nauru, as well as his prevention. contribution to today’s debate. We clearly understand Slovenia is aware that climate change is the the gravity of the situation and the challenges faced by ultimate global challenge that calls for global small island developing States, particularly those of the responsibility. Although climate change is already a Pacific, whose characteristics make them among the reality, with collective effort there is still time to secure most vulnerable countries in the world to climate our future. change. The European Union and its member States are at I would like to align Slovenia with the statement the forefront of the debates on the issue of climate made earlier by the observer of the European Union change. This has led to the presentation of a joint paper (EU). by the High Representative and the European Climate change is not a distant threat. Its impacts Commission on Climate Change and International are real and are already felt by many nations. In many Security in March 2008, during the Slovenian cases, it jeopardizes their very existence. While climate presidency of the EU. The document remains a change is a global phenomenon, its negative impacts reference and guidance for EU action. are disproportionate. Some parts of the world will be Slovenia believes that our success in addressing more affected than others. Furthermore, climate the climate change challenge depends foremost on our vulnerability depends not only on exposure to climate ability to achieve an ambitious post-2012 climate risks, but also on adaptation capacities to reduce those agreement and to limit global warming to below 2° C. risks. Consequently, many of the developing countries Furthermore, building climate resilience is a priority will be the hardest hit by climate change. for the most vulnerable countries and regions, which Climate change has detrimental effects on human bear little historical responsibility for climate change. security and well-being, it endangers economic Negotiations under the United Nations Framework development and efforts to eliminate poverty and has a Convention on Climate Change should deliver a new negative impact on international peace and security. climate deal that will reduce emissions and provide Rising sea levels and coastal erosion will result in the adequate financing and technology transfer for loss of territory, and in some cases even statehood. adaptation actions in developing countries. Rising temperatures and extended droughts will However, neither adaptation nor mitigation alone increase desertification and land degradation, making can avert all climate change impacts. Close vast areas of our planet uninhabitable. According to cooperation is needed among the relevant organs of the one empirical study, there could be 350 million United Nations to intensify efforts in addressing the environmental migrants by 2050 as result of those issue of climate change and its possible security phenomena. Climate change also has a significant implications. We need to use all our knowledge and 2 11-42397 S/PV.6587 (Resumption 1) 20/07/2011 5:04: PM - 21/07/2011 16:57:00 w:\mswdocs\_4verbatim\s6587171e.doc resources to find proper solutions. We see today’s Allow me here to also echo the words of the Council debate as an important contribution to that Secretary-General this morning that we must seize the end. opportunity at the Rio Conference next June to connect the dots of energy security, food security, the The President: I now give the floor to the environment and climate change. We fully agree. representative of Denmark. The efforts to promote global climate diplomacy Mr. Staur (Denmark) First of all, I would like to must also be further strengthened. All aspects of thank you, Mr. President, for convening this important climate change must be addressed through a dialogue debate. I would also like to express my appreciation for that can promote a coherent understanding of this issue the statements this morning by the Secretary-General and a common vision of its solution. In that context, and by the Executive Director of the United Nations we very much welcome the recent EU Foreign Affairs Environment Programme. Council conclusions to strengthen the EU’s climate I would like to align myself with the statement diplomacy. made by the observer of the European Union (EU) just It is an important prerequisite in our efforts to be before lunch. efficient that we have access to relevant information on Denmark sees today’s discussion as a very developments related to climate change and the welcome opportunity to consider how to further security implications thereof. Denmark can therefore support the efforts of the Security Council in relation lend its support to inviting the Secretary-General to to its responsibilities to maintain international peace regularly report on these issues. and security in the context of climate change, and to Most important, we must ensure a joint response make this issue an integral part of the work of the from the international community to the global United Nations. challenge of climate change, to secure international The Secretary-General’s report (A/64/350) peace and security. It is a challenge we all face and that explains how climate change can have an aggravating we can only overcome together. It is our hope that the effect on political tensions. The security implications debate today will be an important step forward in that caused by climate change cannot be ignored. Climate- process. related resource shortages, such as of water and fertile The President: I now give the floor to the land, are well recognized and powerful drivers of representative of Luxembourg. conflict in many places around the world. In some places, climate change may even threaten to undermine Ms. Lucas (Luxembourg) (spoke in French): Governments’ ability to ensure stability and security Luxembourg fully associates itself with the statement for their own people. delivered earlier on behalf of the European Union. To find a sustainable solution to this global Allow me to congratulate you, Mr. President, for threat, it is necessary to follow a multi-pronged having taken the initiative to convene this open debate. strategy that incorporates climate and security in the Climate change is a challenge of global work