Africa: Climate Change & Safeguarding Human Security

Africa will feel the effects of Climate more than any other region in the world, especially the Sahel region, which will likely lead to an increase the tensions already present in the area. In order to understand the regional actions being taken to safeguard populations from these tensions, the NSD-S Hub gathered together experts from multilateral organizations to brief their perspectives. Representatives from the UN, AU, NATO, IGAD, ECOWAS and others all gave their perspectives on the challenges that Climate change will bring to the region in the coming decades. Discussions revolved around the tracking of the effects of climate change and how to mitigate the challenges. .

Background

On November 29 and 30, 2022, in Naples, Italy, academics, experts, and practitioners from the African Union (AU), Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), NATO HQ, NATO SHAPE, NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT), and Canadian, American, and European academic institutions met to discuss the challenges and consequences of climate change in West and East Africa. 

The event was co-organized by the NATO Strategic Direction-South Hub and NATO ACT, as part of the NATO Open Perspectives Exchange Network (OPEN). OPEN is a network for understanding the modern security environment from other than military point of view run by NATO ACT’s Plans and Policy Branch.

With 6 panels over 2 days the event examined how climate change affects and will continue to transform the African security environment. Through working together with African regional actors, NATO sought to establish a shared understanding of the current circumstances, and aimed to identify and promote opportunities for cooperation, security, and stability, notably in the G5 Sahel and Horn of Africa regions.

Research Questions

What systems is currently being done at the multilateral level to counter these affects?

How climate change affects and will continue to transform the African security environment.

How is Space technology being used to track and record the Effects?

What is the link between armed conflict and Climate Change?