I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia^[1]*, Montenegro^*, Serbia^*, Albania^*, Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, the potential candidate country Georgia, align themselves with this statement.

Climate change, with sea-level rise being a direct consequence thereof, is a core driver of conflict and a risk multiplier. It contributes to instability and affects livelihoods, access to resources and human mobility trends, as highlighted in the Secretary General’s report on Our Common Agenda. As explained by previous speakers, sea-level rise poses substantial threats to many coastal States, notably those with low-lying coastal areas, including Small Islands Developing States.

For this reason, we would like to thank Malta for further advancing the importance of the climate/security nexus on the agenda of the UN Security Council. We also thank the Secretary General, the PGA and the other briefers for their insights.

To minimise these threats, a joint up approach of the international community as a whole is necessary. We need to meet the objectives of the Paris Agreement limiting global warming to 1.5°C and increasing the capacity for adaptation, mitigation and resilience to climate change, particularly in the most vulnerable States. It is important to adopt a whole-of-society approach that includes all stakeholders, especially women and youth. Partnerships with regional and sub-regional organizations are equally important in this regard.

It is timely and urgent that the UN Security Council takes up its role in addressing the adverse effects of climate change on peace and security. It should systematically integrate climate-related security issues, where appropriate, in its resolutions, and continue to work towards a comprehensive approach to tackle the security concerns of climate change, including through reconsidering a resolution on climate change and security. Moreover, it should consider the creation of a Special Representative on Climate and Security.

We acknowledge that the UN Climate and Security Mechanism contributes to enhanced coordination, integrated analysis and education within the UN system. The establishment of the Informal Expert Group on Climate and Security is also an important tool that can help the Security Council react to the threats of climate change.

We further welcome the Secretary-General’s announcement on Early Warning Systems. In this regard, the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems  initiative (CREWS) saves lives, assets and livelihoods through increased access to early weather warnings and risk information for people in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

The International Law Commission (ILC) is currently examining the topic of “Sea-Level rise in relation to International Law” in three main areas: law of the sea, statehood and protection of persons affected by sea-level rise. We stand ready to support this process. Any responses to the consequences of this slow-onset phenomenon should ensure preserving stability and security in international relations, including legal stability and security. In accordance with the ILC’s mandate, they need to be in line with and respect the legal framework established by UNCLOS that reflects customary international law. UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and seas must be carried out and establishes mandatory mechanisms for the peaceful settlement of disputes.

Mr President,

The EU has an integrated approach to climate change and security in its external action, including through crisis responses and conflict management.

As the world’s biggest contributor of climate finance and a major humanitarian donor, we support disaster risk reduction, anticipatory action, adaptation and mitigation efforts. For example,

• through the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), we support more than 140 programmes by African, Caribbean and Pacific States and regional institutions to implement disaster risk reduction (DRR) activities.
• As the current chair of the Platform on Disaster Displacement, we aim to strengthen efforts to address the challenge of population displacement prompted by disasters, climate change and environmental degradation, promote global advocacy and support multilateral partnerships and processes.
• With the ‘EU Global Climate Change Alliance Plus Initiative’ we have funded more than 80 adaptation programmes in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
• In addition, the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change contains a strong international dimension, in particular in terms of increasing support for international climate resilience and preparedness, scaling up international finance to build climate resilience and strengthening global engagement and exchanges.
• Lastly, we supported the establishment of new funding arrangements responding to loss and damage at the UNFCCC COP 27. 

I thank you, Mr President.

^[1]* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.