Bonn, Germany, 3 June — The African Union Commission and the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change convened a consultative meeting on Climate, Peace and Security in Africa in Bonn, Germany, ahead of the 64th Session of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies. The meeting was held with the participation and support of the United Nations Office to the African Union and GIZ. The meeting brought together lead negotiators, technical experts and representatives of relevant institutions to discuss Africa’s climate, peace and security priorities and their relevance to climate diplomacy.
Opening the meeting, AGN Chair Antwi-Boasiako Amoah underscored that “climate action is not only an environmental imperative; it is a resilience, stability and development imperative for Africa.” He highlighted that climate, peace and security is not an abstract policy agenda, but a lived reality for communities affected by climate shocks, insecurity, displacement, resource pressures and fragility.
Discussions focused on the draft Common African Position on Climate Change, Peace and Security, Africa’s emerging continental framework for addressing climate-related peace and security risks. Participants recognised that while climate change does not directly cause conflict, it can act as a risk multiplier by deepening vulnerabilities and increasing pressure in already fragile contexts.
The African Union highlighted the draft Common Position as an important pathway for strengthening coherence across Africa’s climate, peace and security priorities, while reflecting diverse regional and Member State contexts. UNOAU reaffirmed the United Nations’ readiness to support African-led work on climate, peace and security, including through the Climate Security Mechanism and existing UN–AU partnership frameworks.
Participants identified adaptation, loss and damage, climate finance, early warning, climate-induced mobility, just transition, technology and response measures as key areas requiring continued engagement. They also stressed the importance of advancing climate, peace and security as a cross-cutting priority within existing UNFCCC workstreams, including through National Adaptation Plans and other climate policy instruments.
The meeting identified four areas for continued collaboration: evidence and early warning; finance and implementation; policy coherence across climate, development and peacebuilding processes; and partnerships with the UN system, development partners and research institutions.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to continued engagement among the AU, AGN, UNOAU and partners in support of the conclusion and operationalisation of the Common African Position on Climate Change, Peace and Security.
Read the AGN press statement here.
