The UN Security Council deals for the first time with global warming
European Union: Climate change jeopardizes universal peace

The European Union alerts that the climate change will cause conflicts because of migratory pressures and competition for resources. Because of this the EU claims a debate on the consequences of global warming for international security.

On Tuesday April 17 th the UN Security Council in New York dealt for the first time with the world climate (against the wishes of the USA and China). The British foreign minister Margaret Beckett had put this topic on the agenda of the Security Council. She compared the upcoming climatic disaster to the years before 1939 when the Second World War was emerging, but with the difference that Hitler’s plans could not be proven whereas nowadays there is enough proof that the climate change is unavoidable: “In climate change, there is strong evidence to tell us that we are dealing with an inevitability. This is something that is happening and that will go on happening.” According to Beckett we have to fear famines, floodings, huge movements of refugees and conflicts of potable water. “I argue that there are some fairly basic needs that underpin our collective security – as much within communities and societies as between states. Take them away, fail to prepare adequately and you raise the chances of conflict and instability. If people don't have enough food to eat it can lead to instability. If – perhaps even more so – they can't get the water they need for themselves and their families: again, the risk of heightened tension.“

Beckett (whose country holds the current council presidency) emphasized that the responsibility in the council is to maintain international peace and security, including the prevention of conflict. To prevent conflicts it is necessary to move to a low-carbon economy that uses energy far more efficiently than we do today. First this will cut emissions and help to achieve climate security and second our energy security will be improved as we will be less reliant on a small number of states in rather unstable regions. “By 2020 half of the world's oil production will be in countries currently considered at risk of internal instability. And already, today, two countries – Russia and Iran – account for over two-fifths of global gas reserves.“

Beckett’s aim is to set the pattern for technology and standardise it across borders. For that, in her opinion business has to be on board at every stage. “Business has to tell the politicians what incentives they think need to be in place, what barriers have to be taken down, what signals need to be given to the market. “

China rejected her opinion: "The developing countries believe that Security Council has neither the professional competence in handling climate change -- nor is it the right decision-making place for extensive participation leading up to widely acceptable proposals."

The same topic was dealt with in a report published by a military advisory board on 16th April 2007. This report forecasts political instability, wars over scarce resources and millions of climate refugees as some of the consequences of climate change. But it also makes a connection between global warming and the further rise of terrorism. "The chaos that results can be an incubator of civil strife, genocide and the growth of terrorism," the report states. This military think tank wants climate-change policy to become an integral part of national security and defense strategies.

Weblinks:

National Security and the threat of challenge (by the CNA corporation) http://securityandclimate.cna.org/report/National Security and the Threat of Climate Change.pdf

Alertnet: UK puts climate change in UN Council, China objects http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N17442942.htm

BBC News:

Security Council takes on global warming http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6559211.stm

EU “behind” on climate change http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6080060.stm

The Independent: Global warming must be top priority for UN, says Beckett: http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article1705585.ece