Planetary Security Conference 2016: adelphi co-convenes global climate and security event

How can climate-induced risks become an integral part of foreign and security policy? The Planetary Security Conference, organised by adelphi and other leading think tanks, is meant to deliver answers to this question and will take place from 5 to 6 December in The Hague.

Our world faces increasingly complex threats and risks – and climate change is considered one of the key driving forces. A growing number of experts have shown the general nature of climate related risks and tracked their impact on politics, peace and conflict. Nonetheless, there has been limited momentum to formulate policies and approaches to address these risks effectively. This is partly because the indirect risks are still underestimated and poorly understood in mainstream foreign and defence policy circles.

The PSI, launched by The Netherlands’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to help remedy this problem by

1. enhancing political awareness of climate-induced risks,
2. involving decision-makers at the climate-security interface,
3. building an inclusive community that is multi-lateral, multi-sector and multi-disciplinary, and
4. creating a regular platform for global cooperation on planetary security.

Through bringing together representatives of all levels of governance, academia, civil society, the private sector and the media, the project facilitates the development of effective strategies in order to respond in a coordinated and timely manner to current and future security threats that are caused by environmental changes. Hence, the topics covered at the conference are broad and range from climate and food security, to adaptation and peacebuilding, to the role of defence and intelligence communities for managing climate risks.

Keynote speakers

• Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary, UNCCD
• John Kerry, Secretary of State, United States of America (tbc)
• Bert Koenders, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands
• Amina J. Mohammed,  Honorable Minister of Environment of Nigeria
• Jeffrey Sachs, Economist & Director of the Earth Institute (tbc)
• Monika Sie Dhian Ho, General Director, the Clingendael Institute
• Dan Smith, Director, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
• Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP Deputy Executive Director & Assistant-Secretary-General of the UN

adelphi is also convening and moderating two conference working groups that discuss the resilience of global food security and linking climate change adaptation and peacebuilding, respectively. Moreover, adelphi and SIPRI will launch a report titled “Towards A Global Resilience Agenda: Action on Climate Fragility Risks” that synthesizes the latest developments regarding climate-fragility risks and policy responses. As part of a consortium of leading think tanks that organise the PSI, adelphi is also facilitating the community of practice that the PSI brings together at both the annual conference as well as beyond at other important international events and regional consultations.

As part of a consortium of leading think tanks adelphi is co-organising the Planetary Security Initiative. More information can be found on the Planetary Security Conference's website.