Knowledge Hub

What is Climate Security?


Climate security is a broad concept that is used to refer to the threats and risks posed by the effects of climate change to the peace, stability, communities, and individuals. This encompasses a wide range of concerns, including the exacerbation of conflicts due to incompatible adaptive pathways, forced migrations resulting from climate and weather events, and challenges to state sovereignty and governance. As highlighted by CGIAR, climate security underscores the nexus between climate change impacts and societal vulnerabilities. It emphasizes the necessity for a comprehensive and multidimensional approach to understand and address the complex challenges that arise from this intersection.

Climate Finance for Peace

The connection between climate finance and security emphasizes the importance of coordinating financial measures to address climate change with the broader goal of sustainable and peaceful development. International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and UNFCCC financial mechanisms are central in this effort, directing substantial resources to countries facing socio-political challenges or fragility. Recent research from CGIAR provides critical data: forty percent of the 1.3 billion individuals at risk from climate impacts live in these unstable regions, and a significant portion of multilateral climate finance is allocated there. Given this overlap of climate action and peace concerns, it's essential for IFIs and funds to develop strategies that are aware of potential conflict risks. Failing to consider this can disrupt socio-economic systems, increase local conflicts, and impair fund delivery. Integrating peace-focused considerations in programming can in turn better address country needs and direct funds more efficiently to the most vulnerable populations.

“[Conflict] analysis is not just about countries areas with ongoing or recent armed conflicts and assessing what effects and risks they maintain, it is equally about understanding potential tensions, lower grade conflicts between different groups, making sure that they minimize any potential adverse side effects.”

— Lars Roth, Board Member GCF (GCF 18th Board meeting)

Glossary

Adjustments in ecological, social, or economic systems in response to observed or expected changes in climatic stimuli and their effects.

The ability of systems, institutions, humans and other organisms to adjust to potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to respond to consequences of climate change.

Financing channeled by public and private entities for climate change mitigation and adaptation projects and programs.

The ability of a system to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate change impacts.

In the context of climate finance, this refers to the examination and analysis of the dynamics and root causes of a conflict in an area of intervention, focusing on understanding its history, key actors, and potential solutions.

In the context of climate finance initiatives, it signifies strategies to address and mitigate conflicts that arise from or are exacerbated by climate change impacts or interventions.

An organizational approach to programming that understands both the context in which it operates and the interaction between that context and the program's operations aimed at minimizing risks (do-no-harm) and maximizing peace (do-good).

This relates to the specific climate-related requirements or challenges a country faces, guiding where and how resources are allocated.

Sub-national, national or regional organizations that need to be nominated by developing country National Designated Authorities (NDAs) or focal points.

Strategies aimed at preventing new and reducing existing disaster risk.

The process of addressing environmental degradation and natural resource scarcities as part of peace-building efforts, emphasizing the role of the environment in preventing conflict and building sustainable peace.

The practice of integrating gender considerations into all its programs and projects. This ensures that both men and women have equitable access to the benefits of funded activities and that gender disparities in vulnerability to climate change are addressed.

A systematic process to determine the potential or actual significant effects of a proposed or actual project or policy on various aspects of the environment or society.

Refers to the magnitude of positive change a climate finance project can mobilize, guiding the allocation of resources to high-impact areas.

People who have been forced to leave their homes due to factors such as natural disasters or conflicts but remain within their country's borders.

Efforts to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases.

Government institutions that serve as the interface between each country and the Green Climate Fund.

Natural Resource Management is the sustainable management and utilization of natural resources such as land, water, soil, plants, and animals.

Potential challenges or losses arising from internal processes or external factors, affecting project execution or fund delivery.

An approach that actively involves stakeholders, especially the communities affected, in the process of decision-making, research, or intervention.

Peace responsiveness seeks to enhance the ability of actors operating in conflict affected or fragile contexts to be conflict-sensitive and to deliberately contribute to peace through their technical programming -in a manner that enhances collective impact, that supports inclusive, gender-responsive and locally- led change and that strengthens societal resilience to conflict and violence.

Redd+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation): A mechanism aiming to incentivize a shift in land use to support conservation and sustainable use of forests.

The potential negative perceptions arising from the actions or the actions of partners related to project design and implementation, affecting trust and stakeholder relations.

A framework that outlines how to identify and manage potential risks in its operations, ensuring the efficacy and impact of its interventions.


Green Climate Fund Module

The first add-on module to be implemented in CSPDxCF aims to further assist project developed in the Green Climate Fund (GCF). As part of this module, we developed a thematic series of eight Guidance Notes for Peace-Informed Programming in the GCF. These notes provide sectoral guidance tailored to the GCF's Result Areas. Recognizing the complex nexus between climate change and peace, the series aims to provide actionable strategies to assist both Accredited Entities and Direct Access Entities to understand and manage project risks as well as to maximize opportunities to promote peace.

Health, Food, Water
Livelihoods
Infrastructure and Built Environment
Ecosystems
Energy
Transport
Buildings, Cities, Industries
Forest and Land Use