Climate Change and Security Regional Dialogues

Context

The 2023 EU Joint Communication on the Climate Security Nexus highlights the risks that climate change and environmental degradation pose to human security and sets out a framework to respond to climate-related security challenges. It calls for stronger synergies between peacebuilding, stabilisation, and climate policy, in line with the EU Green Deal, the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, and the Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus approach.

Building on this policy momentum, the EU has expanded its engagement on the climate, environment and security nexus in fragile contexts. Targeted interventions and mainstreaming of climate-sensitive approaches across international cooperation have deepened understanding of the complex interlinkages and reinforced the EU’s commitment to integrated responses. In partnership with adelphi global, the EU is operationalising this commitment through a series of regional dialogues.

These dialogues aim to enhance cooperation at community, national, regional and global level, bringing together policymakers, practitioners, civil society and research institutions. By strengthening analysis, sharing experience, and fostering coordination, they seek to provide actors with the tools to manage cascading risks linked to natural resource management, environmental governance, and climate adaptation. Ultimately, the dialogues will support tailored, region-specific approaches to prevention, peacebuilding and resilience-building in climate-vulnerable contexts.

Overall objective

This project aims to contribute to greater awareness and understanding of specific and general climate related security risk pathways to more effectively address the adverse effects of climate change and environmental degradation on peace and security.

Specific objectives

• To build a common vision among EU actors for effective engagement on climate security, ensuring that both they and external partners are well informed on policy implications and programmatic pathways.
• To extend EU engagement on the climate-security nexus, including through the EU-UNEP Climate, Environment and Security Partnership, at regional level to support greater knowledge transfer and coordination.

Concrete activities

• Analyse trends in the EU approach to climate security.
• Develop a conceptual framework and methodology for trend analysis.
• Engage with stakeholders (users and research partners such as the JRC) to refine methodology and collect baseline data.
• Produce policy support materials: EU approach document, internal briefing papers, and case-study snapshots.
• Disseminate EU approach documents and follow up with stakeholders for technical support.
• Organise a strategic Climate Security Dialogue in Brussels and six regional dialogues, including coordination and participant outreach, venue and travel logistics, policy and agenda preparation, facilitation of 1.5-day dialogues and high-level working sessions, development of summary notes and lessons learnt.

Expected results

• Insights into trends and structural forces through which climate change is likely to shape peace and security over the next decade.
• A conceptual framework identifying emerging dynamics, key uncertainties, and entry points to address climate-security risks.
• Methodological guidance for forward-looking assessments combining quantitative and qualitative evidence.
• Overview of EU operationalisation of the climate-security nexus via the four pillars of the Joint Communication.
• Illustrative case-study snapshots of specific climate-security risks and opportunities.
• Baseline assessment of climate-security data that can be updated annually.
• Enhanced integration of climate-security into EU programming and engagement.
• Strengthened regional and HQ-level dialogue, coordination, and knowledge sharing with stakeholders.

Expected achievements

• Brought together over 80 EU, international, and civil society experts to advance dialogue on the climate-security nexus during the Brussels Climate Security Dialogue on 19-20 Feb 2025.
• Convened 50 experts from the EU, African governments, regional organisations, and civil society to advance dialogue on climate, peace and security (CPS) in East and Horn of Africa, during the Nairobi Regional Climate Security Dialogue on 10-11 Mar 2025.
• Launched the first progress report on Climate, Peace and Security (CPS) and the Climate Security trend analysis, providing a basis for evidence-informed policy.
• Strengthened cross-sectoral EU engagement and operationalisation of CPS action, with plans for regional dialogues in multiple global regions.
• Facilitated knowledge exchange on policy and programme responses to climate-related security risks, including governance, displacement, and resource competition.
• Conducted scenario exercises to identify high-impact risks and preventive action strategies for the region.