Nordic Statement on Sea-Level Rise and Implications for International Peace and Security

Mr. President,

Members of the Security Council,

I have the pleasure to deliver this statement on behalf of the Nordic countries: Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and my own country, Denmark.

We thank the Vietnamese Presidency and the co-sponsors for organizing today’s important and timely meeting, and the speakers for their statements.

Addressing climate change is key to ensuring sustainable development and avoiding humanitarian disasters. We fully support the Security Council’s strengthened and systematic focus on the issue. Climate change must be recognised as a security issue, and as such, it should be fully integrated into the work of UN peacekeeping operations and UN’s special political missions.  

Security threats emanating from climate change take many shapes and forms. For many small island developing states, they take a very concrete and imminent shape: As an existential threat of being flooded due to sea-level rise. The low-lying and small island developing states must of course be high on the agenda for multilateral action on climate and security.

Let me share three opportunities for increased international action on climate and security:

First, we must take action on climate adaptation now to address the impacts of climate change. We must strengthen cooperation between partners, civil society, weather services and regional and sub-regional actors to make better use of, as an example, climate-sensitive analysis and early warning systems.

Second, we must apply a whole-of-society approach to achieve inclusive and lasting solutions to complex climate-related security risks. We need to draw on all tools, capacities and expertise at our disposal. To do so, we need a networked and inclusive multilateralism, in which the entire UN family, regional organizations, civil society organizations, academics and the private sector, work together.

Third, we must increase climate financing for adaptation in vulnerable regions. The Nordic countries are leading in creating momentum for scaling up climate finance for adaptation. This underpins our commitment to addressing the consequences of climate change and overcoming the obstacles it poses for sustainable development.

Thank you.