Climate adaptation is necessary to avoid potential risks to peace, security in SIDS: FM Shahid

Climate adaptation is “absolutely necessary” in order to avoid potential risks to peace and security within Small Island Developing States (SIDS), says Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulla Shahid.

He made these remarks in his statement at the United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the “Maintenance of International Peace and Security: Climate Change” convened by Prime Minister of United Kingdom, Boris Johnson in his capacity as the President of the Security Council for the ongoing month.

Highlighting that nearly 14 years have passed since the Security Council hosted its first-ever debate on Energy, Security and Climate, also organized by the UK, where FM Shahid had noted that climate change is “not only” an everyday fact of life for the Maldives but an “existential threat”, the foreign minister stated that countries like Maldives cannot afford to wait while disagreements continue on which forum of the UN must address climate change.

FM Shahid expressed concern to still hear opposition regarding the role of the Security Council in addressing the security threats related to climate change, noting that undoubtedly, climate change is the ultimate threat multiplier.

In this regard, climate adaptation is particularly relevant now in light of the intensified climate impacts due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and with fiscal resources having been weakened in response efforts, FM Shahid said, adding that the globe is fighting for survival in a “never-ending battle against the raging elements”.

The foreign minister went to stress on the situation in the Sahel region, noting that countries vulnerable to drought that are facing crop failure have it worse by conflicts that pave way for the likelihood of conflict and instability.

Such climate-induced risks to peace and security are already manifesting in situations of conflict that are in turn alleviating tensions and disrupting efforts to build peace, FM Shahid said, highlighting that vulnerable groups “face the brunt of the hardships” in such crises.

In this regard, the foreign minister highlighted that indigenous women are the most heavily impacted in the case of climate change, with generally women bearing a “disproportionate burden”. He highlighted that women are also the “change bearers” across societies in light of which an effective approach should be “gender-responsive” and “inclusive”.

Acknowledging that the primary intergovernmental body dealing with climate change is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), FM Shahid urged not to turn a blind eye to the situation which falls outside the scope of UNFCCC. As such, he noted that the UNFCCC’s work must be complemented by the role of the Security Council and other UN bodies.

Further, the foreign minister noted that Maldivians being powerless in individually preventing the adverse effects of climate change does not imply that they must accept their fate and added that the country means to lead by example.

As such, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih announced the government’s purpose to reach net-zero emissions by 2030 at the Climate Ambition Summit in December 2020.

FM Shahid went on to remark that he was not under the impression that the ambitious targets and transformational actions of the Solih administration would save the island nation, noting that the island communities will not be able to keep their heads above the water without the support of the UNSC.

Although it has been recognized that associating climate-related risks to international peace and security is a “complex” and “broad” challenge, FM Shahid stated that the Security Council must solve difficult and complex issues in order to live up to its primary responsibility for international peace and security.