UNSC ARRIA FORMULA MEETING

CLIMATE, PEACE AND SECURITY: OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE UN PEACE AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE

29 November 2022, 1500 hrs

India Statement

Thank you Chair. 

I thank the delegations of Norway and Kenya for convening this meeting and ASG Miroslav Jenca for his briefing. 

2.    India’s position on climate change and security has been consistent and clear. UN Security Council is not the place to discuss climate action or climate justice. In fact, the attempt to do so appears to be motivated by a desire to evade responsibility at the appropriate forum and divert global attention from an unwillingness to deliver where it counts.

3.    All conflicts cannot be necessarily viewed through the prism of climate change alone. Applying this perspective as a cross cutting theme is not only misleadingbut alsodoes disservice to the fundamental narrative on climate change. 

4.    This is an issue where all 193 members of the General Assembly Climate have an equal stake. That is what we agreed collectively under the aegis of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).  By now bringing the issue under the Security Council agenda through a misplaced securitization of the climate change narrative, we would be doing neither the cause nor the forum any justice. Ironically, it is those members of this body, who are more privileged than others, who have been the leading contributors of climate change due to historical emissions.  If the Security Council now comes to be vestedwith the responsibility on climate change, we are willfully allowing an essentially development issue to be subject to the veto of a privileged few states, and that too in a body that was never mandated to deliberate on this subject. This is clearly neither desirable nor acceptable.

Mr. President

4.    ‘Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability’, the Working Group II contribution to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report published earlier this year, states, [I quote] ‘While non-climatic factors are the dominant drivers of existing intrastate violent conflicts, in some assessed regions extreme weather and climate events have had a small, adverse impact on their length, severity or frequency, but the statistical association is weak’. [end quote]. The report further states [I quote] ‘Climate variability and extremes are associated with more prolonged conflict through food price spikes, food and water insecurity, loss of income and loss of livelihoods (high confidence[interval]), with more consistent evidence for lowintensity organised violence within countries, than for major or international armed conflict’. [end quote]. 

6.    Article 24 of the UN Charter states, ‘Members confer on the Security Council primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security’. Clearly the mandate of the Security Council is not to discuss ‘low intensity organized violence within countries’. 

7.    That there is no conclusive scientific basis for the climate-security link does not mean that there are no challenges on the ground. On the contrary, climate change is bound to have an existential impact globally and especially in developing countries. We have been, therefore, advocating responding to the climate change crisis in its entirety, under a forum, where all members of the United Nations, are treated on an equal footing, with an equal voice, i.e.the UNFCCC process. 

8.    In our eagerness to link climate change and security, we should not ignore the UNFCC. The UNFCCC has always been informed by ALL member states’ priorities.It represents a balanced global democratic effort where there are concrete commitments from developed countries as well as genuine requirements of developing countries, as reflected in Nationally Determined Contributions, based on certain fundamental principles, foremost amongst which is CBDR-RC (Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities).  In effect, it takes a holistic view of combating climate change which is equitable and fair, according equal importance to various aspects of climate action including mitigation, adaptation, climate financing, loss and damage funding, technology transfer and capacity building.

9.    In this context, what we all agreed at the COP27 implementation plan is worth noting again. The Plan calls upon developed countries for acceleration in the development, deployment and dissemination of technologies, and the adoption of policies to transition towards low-emission energy systems, while providing targeted support to the poorest and most vulnerable in line with national circumstances and recognizing the need for support towards a just transition. We welcome the setting up of the landmark ‘loss and damage’ fund to assist developing countries which areextremely vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change.  However, while there has been focus on mitigation, it has been pointed out in several IPCC reports that the funding for adaptation has been abysmally low. This is an anomaly which needs immediate course correction.

10.    There can be no talk about addressing climate change impact without discussing climate finance. US$ 4 trillion needs to be invested annually in renewable energy till 2030 to be able to reach global net zero emissions by 2050; and a global transformation to a low-carbon economy is expected to require investment of at least US$ 4–6 trillion per year. COP27 reminded the developed countries of the unmet goal of mobilizing US$ 100 billion per year by 2020 for meaningful mitigation action and transparency on implementation. Accelerated financial support and addressing inequities in access to finance, including its costs, terms and conditions, will help address economic vulnerability to climate change for developing countries. The Implementation Plan recognizes the impact this would have on Sub-Saharan Africa with high social returns in terms of access to basic energy. 

11.    There is much work to be done on climate change. Member states have made significant efforts together in the recently concluded COP27, and we commend the delegation of Egypt for being a successful host. However, it’s important that the various organs of the United Nations focus on their respective mandates and not encroach upon others under false pretexts. Progress on climate change must be pegged to the targets and directions as set forth in the UNFCCC process. I thank you. 

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