Climate and security: concern of the UN, the West opposed to Russia and China
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, during a session of the UN Security Council on the occasion of the 76th General Assembly of the international organization in New York, September 23, 2021. Getty Images via AFP - POOL
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2 min
This Thursday, September 23, the Security Council met at the ministerial level, on the sidelines of the leaders' week of the 76th UN General Assembly.
For its annual meeting, the challenge is to be able to broaden its mandate to include peace and security issues caused by climate change.
According to the speeches at the GA podium, the majority of countries are aware that most of the challenges of tomorrow will be caused by the climate.
But that is not enough: two important members refuse to consider giving the Council more power.
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With our correspondent in New York,
Carrie Nooten
Last year, 30 million people were displaced by climate change.
However, these population movements and migrations destabilize entire regions.
Especially since, unlike a conflict where everyone returns home once peace is signed, climate-displaced people are generally uprooted forever.
For this, 12 of the 15 members of the Security Council called for its permanent seizure, the adoption of a resolution having the force of international law and the appointment of an envoy dedicated to the impact of the climate on peace and security.
This had already been discussed in February, and once is not custom,
China
and Russia opposed them to an objection.
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Read also: The climate crisis is a threat to global security, according to leaders at the UN
"Russia and China don't like it"
“
Over the past thirty years, the Security Council has increasingly dealt with subjects that straddle international and domestic policies,”
analyzes Benjamin Pohl, from the Adelphi think tank.
And Russia and China don't like it.
They want to at least limit that, and not allow it to go further.
"
For US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, agreeing that the issue has its place on the Council's agenda was already a clear message sent to the international community.
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To read also: IPCC report on the climate: island nations call on the world to save their future
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