Statement by H.E. Ambassador ISHIKANE Kimihiro, Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, at the Security Council Open Debate on “Maintenance of International Peace and Security - Climate and Security”
2021/9/23
Mr. President,
I welcome today’s open debate on climate and security organized by the Irish Presidency during the High-Level Week of the 76th Session of the General Assembly and less than 40 days before the opening of the long-awaited COP 26 in Glasgow. I also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing.
Mr. President,
Climate change brings about multidimensional negative impacts on the survival, livelihood, and dignity of people. Water scarcity, drought, desertification, land degradation, and food insecurity are hitting people severely in the Sahel and other arid regions. Sea level rise and the erosion of coastlines pose an existential threat to small island developing States (SIDS) and their people. While the victims of hurricanes, torrential rains, and heat waves are everywhere, the most devastating and widespread impacts on human security are imposed on the most vulnerable people and communities.
The linkage between climate change and conflict is indirect, for sure. However, there is no doubt that human insecurity, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, becomes multiplier of risk, not only of humanitarian crisis but for peace and security, particularly in conflict prone areas. Japan therefore joins Ireland in recognizing climate change as a vector which increases the risk of violent conflict.
Mr. President,
As we place people at the center of our security paradigm, climate change is undoubtedly one of the priority issues for the maintenance of peace and security. However, whether or not the Security Council, the principal organ in this area, can effectively engage itself in the efforts to mitigate climate change or adapt to its negative impacts is another issue. Beyond raising public awareness about the climate-related risks of violent conflict, is there a clear role the Security Council could and should play? Should “climate-related security risks” be dealt with separately from other drivers of conflict, including various socio-economic root causes, in the context of peacekeeping operations, conflict prevention or mediation?
Answers to these questions need thorough consideration. But one thing is clear, climate change is linked to violent conflict through its impact on human security; that is to say, on the survival, livelihood, and dignity of people. It is vital that the international community focus on people when analyzing the impacts of climate change on conflict. By placing people at the center of our response to climate-related security risks, it becomes evident that United Nations system should break silos and respond in a comprehensive and seamless manner, building on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
Mr. President,
Japan remains steadfast in addressing climate change and contributing to maintaining international peace and security. In such efforts, Japan places great importance on carrying out immediate actions to enhance resilience to the negative impacts of climate change, and to build institutional capacities to strengthen the national ownership of countries facing climate-related challenges.
Japan has been supporting the efforts of African countries to strengthen climate resilience through the processes of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). We support projects for sustainable forest management, integrated water resource management, and measures to fight desertification and enhance agricultural productivity under the “African Initiative for Combating Desertification to Strengthen Resilience to Climate Change in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa”, launched at TICAD VI in Nairobi in 2016. In addition, Japan supports the African countries’ efforts for institution building under the “New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA)”, launched at TICAD-7 in Yokohama in 2019, in order to overcome vulnerabilities while addressing the root causes of conflicts.
Climate-related risks go beyond borders, and therefore regional cooperation is indispensable. Japan has promoted such regional cooperation through the Japan-CARICOM framework and the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM). At PALM 9, co-chaired by the Prime Ministers of Japan and Tuvalu in July 2021, leaders affirmed their commitment to cooperating closely in strengthening resilience against disasters. In June 2021, Japan announced that it will provide climate finance, both public and private, totaling approximately USD 60 billion over the next 5 years from 2021 to 2025, and that it will further enhance its assistance for adaptation.
In closing, Japan believes that the United Nations is the primary player for deepening international cooperation for action against climate-related risks. Japan will be an active partner in this endeavor.
I thank you.
I welcome today’s open debate on climate and security organized by the Irish Presidency during the High-Level Week of the 76th Session of the General Assembly and less than 40 days before the opening of the long-awaited COP 26 in Glasgow. I also thank the Secretary-General for his briefing.
Mr. President,
Climate change brings about multidimensional negative impacts on the survival, livelihood, and dignity of people. Water scarcity, drought, desertification, land degradation, and food insecurity are hitting people severely in the Sahel and other arid regions. Sea level rise and the erosion of coastlines pose an existential threat to small island developing States (SIDS) and their people. While the victims of hurricanes, torrential rains, and heat waves are everywhere, the most devastating and widespread impacts on human security are imposed on the most vulnerable people and communities.
The linkage between climate change and conflict is indirect, for sure. However, there is no doubt that human insecurity, exacerbated by the impacts of climate change, becomes multiplier of risk, not only of humanitarian crisis but for peace and security, particularly in conflict prone areas. Japan therefore joins Ireland in recognizing climate change as a vector which increases the risk of violent conflict.
Mr. President,
As we place people at the center of our security paradigm, climate change is undoubtedly one of the priority issues for the maintenance of peace and security. However, whether or not the Security Council, the principal organ in this area, can effectively engage itself in the efforts to mitigate climate change or adapt to its negative impacts is another issue. Beyond raising public awareness about the climate-related risks of violent conflict, is there a clear role the Security Council could and should play? Should “climate-related security risks” be dealt with separately from other drivers of conflict, including various socio-economic root causes, in the context of peacekeeping operations, conflict prevention or mediation?
Answers to these questions need thorough consideration. But one thing is clear, climate change is linked to violent conflict through its impact on human security; that is to say, on the survival, livelihood, and dignity of people. It is vital that the international community focus on people when analyzing the impacts of climate change on conflict. By placing people at the center of our response to climate-related security risks, it becomes evident that United Nations system should break silos and respond in a comprehensive and seamless manner, building on the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
Mr. President,
Japan remains steadfast in addressing climate change and contributing to maintaining international peace and security. In such efforts, Japan places great importance on carrying out immediate actions to enhance resilience to the negative impacts of climate change, and to build institutional capacities to strengthen the national ownership of countries facing climate-related challenges.
Japan has been supporting the efforts of African countries to strengthen climate resilience through the processes of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD). We support projects for sustainable forest management, integrated water resource management, and measures to fight desertification and enhance agricultural productivity under the “African Initiative for Combating Desertification to Strengthen Resilience to Climate Change in the Sahel and the Horn of Africa”, launched at TICAD VI in Nairobi in 2016. In addition, Japan supports the African countries’ efforts for institution building under the “New Approach for Peace and Stability in Africa (NAPSA)”, launched at TICAD-7 in Yokohama in 2019, in order to overcome vulnerabilities while addressing the root causes of conflicts.
Climate-related risks go beyond borders, and therefore regional cooperation is indispensable. Japan has promoted such regional cooperation through the Japan-CARICOM framework and the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting (PALM). At PALM 9, co-chaired by the Prime Ministers of Japan and Tuvalu in July 2021, leaders affirmed their commitment to cooperating closely in strengthening resilience against disasters. In June 2021, Japan announced that it will provide climate finance, both public and private, totaling approximately USD 60 billion over the next 5 years from 2021 to 2025, and that it will further enhance its assistance for adaptation.
In closing, Japan believes that the United Nations is the primary player for deepening international cooperation for action against climate-related risks. Japan will be an active partner in this endeavor.
I thank you.