Statement by Mr. HOSAKA Yasushi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, at the Security Council Open Debate on “The Impact of Climate Change and Food Insecurity on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security”

Mr. President,

Japan highly commends your initiative to hold this important meeting. I would also like to thank the briefers for their insightful inputs.

Climate change, food security, and conflict are interlinked in complex ways.

Japan clearly recognizes climate change as a security issue that affects the very existence of humankind in the National Security Strategy of Japan in 2022. Japan leads the efforts to address climate change in the international community.

These challenges are not only critical for SIDS and other vulnerable and developing countries, but also affect international peace and security. Therefore, it is important for this Council to tackle these challenges.

The Security Council must work, with the determination to “Leave No One Behind”, toward achieving a world in which "human dignity" is protected and strengthened, by addressing emerging risks such as climate change, food and energy insecurity, and infectious diseases, among others.

Mr. President,

It is insufficient to tackle each risk separately. We believe that a comprehensive approach, including enhancing the resilience of society, is the key to building and sustaining peace.

From this perspective, last year, Japan held an open debate at this Council on peacebuilding, stressing the importance of investing in people to strengthen the resilience of society for sustaining peace.

Japan also co-hosted the Arria-formula Meeting on Conflict Prevention with Guyana and Mozambique last month.

At these meetings, we shared a recognition of the importance of conflict prevention and sustaining peace through a “humanitarian, development, and peace nexus” approach, which necessarily includes the empowerment of women, youth, and vulnerable people. Japan will continue to work vigorously on these issues under our upcoming Presidency in March.

Mr. President,

We must make full use of the functions of the United Nations to better address the issues facing the international community.

In particular, the Security Council could make better use of the Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). The PBC should continue to broaden its scope to cover matters that can affect conflicts, such as those arising from climate change and food insecurity, and actively provide recommendations to the Council.

Japan, as an informal coordinator between the Security Council and PBC this year, will spare no effort to enhance the close collaboration between the two bodies, with a view to maintaining peace and security more effectively and sustainably.

Mr. President,

In May of last year, we issued the “Hiroshima Statement for Resilient Global Food Security”, together with countries representing various regions around the world.

The Hiroshima Statement is a comprehensive guideline for responding to the immediate food security crisis, as well as for establishing more sustainable and resilient agriculture and food systems in the medium and long term.

In this connection, we emphasize again that comprehensive approaches would be more effective at halting the increase of risks coming from climate change, as well as to break the vicious cycles that create further risks.

From this perspective, Japan continues to support each country’s efforts toward low-emission and climate-resilient development, including assistance for developing countries in both climate mitigation and adaptation.

For instance, Japan has committed to mobilize up to about $70 billion USD in climate finance from both public and private sectors over a five-year period through 2025 to support developing countries to combat climate change.

We hope our support will contribute to alleviate the impacts of climate change, prevent spillover into food insecurity, and curb the occurrence or deterioration of conflicts.

Mr. President,

As I mentioned, Japan will assume the presidency of this Council next month.

We will continue to actively contribute to the realization of a sustainable peace and stability, based on the fundamental principle that human life and human dignity are of utmost importance.

I thank you.