Co-hosted by the African Union, UNOAU and UNECA, this high-level side event focused on strengthening partnerships to support climate adaptation in fragile and high-risk contexts, linking resilience-building with peace and stability outcomes.
The high-level side event under the theme “Adapting for Stability: Scaling Partnerships for Peace and Climate Resilience in Africa.” was opened by Dr. James Murombedzi, Head of the Africa Climate Policy Centre, UNECA, and Dr. Samson Ogallah, Head of the Climate Change Unit, AUC, underscored the inseparability of climate impacts and instability in Africa. Dr. Murombedzi highlighted that adaptation interventions—including mobility and relocation can trigger or exacerbate conflict when not grounded in conflict-sensitive frameworks, while Dr. Ogallah noted that 7.5 million Africans were displaced by climate shocks in 2023. He emphasized that climate change is a potent risk multiplier across the continent and stressed the importance of advancing the Addis Ababa Declaration and the emerging Common African Position on Climate, Peace and Security as Africa’s unified response to CPS challenges.
The panel discussion brought together high level representatives from the EU, Germany, COP29 presidency, UNDP, IGAD/ICPAC, AfDB, UNFPA, the Santiago Network, PACJA, the Berghof Foundation and the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Nigeria. The session moderated by the UNOAU Climate, Peace and Security Advisor, Tendai E. Kasinganet, provided an opportunity for panellists to highlight the lived realities of the climate–peace nexus in Africa and called for integrated, conflict-sensitive climate investments, stronger regional early-warning systems, youth- and women-centred resilience programming, and deeper AU–EU–UN cooperation—including ahead of the AU–EU Summit. Speakers stressed that fragile and conflict-affected countries continue to receive disproportionately low adaptation finance despite heightened exposure and urged development partners to pivot from analysis to implementation, drawing on African-led frameworks such as the Addis Ababa Declaration and the Common African Position on Climate, Peace and Security The discussion reaffirmed strong political and technical momentum behind Africa’s CPS agenda. The co-organisers of the side event agreed to reconvene after COP30 to review progress and define next steps for coordinated operational support to African institutions.
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