Communique of the 1051th meeting of the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) held on 26 November 2021 on the theme: Climate Change and Peace and Security: The need for an Informed Climate-Security-Development nexus for Africa

AFRICAN UNION

A/n jUhi

UNIAO AFRICANA

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, P.O. Box: 3243 Tel.: (251-11) 5513 822 Fax: (251-11) 5519 321

Email: situationroom@africa-union.org

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL 1051^st MEETING 26 NOVEMBER 2021 ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA

PSC/PR/COMM.1051 (2021)

COMMUNIQUE

COMMUNIQUE

Adopted by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the African Union (AU) at its 1051^st meeting held on 26 November 2021 on the theme: Climate Change and Peace and Security: The need for an Informed Climate-Security-Development nexus for Africa:

The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling its previous decisions and pronouncements on climate change, peace and security, and related themes, particularly communique [PSC/AHG/COMM.1042(2021)] adopted at its 1043^rd meeting held on 29 October 2021 and communique [PSC/AHG/COMM.1 (CMLXXXIV)] adopted at its 984^th meeting held on 9 March 2021, both held at the level of Heads of State and Government;

Also recalling the AU Assembly Decisions on climate change and Africa's engagement in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Conferences of the Parties (UNFCCC) as the global umbrella treaty on climate change, and referring to the outcomes of the 26^th Session ofthe United Nations Climate Change Conference ofthe Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, United Kingdom, on 31 October - 13 November 2021;

Noting with concern the increasing disproportionate impacts of climate change on Africa and the challenges pose to socio-economic development in the Continent hampering the realization of the aspirations enshrined in Agenda 2063 and adversely impacting the implementation of the AU flagship project - Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2030;

Mindful of the vulnerability of the African Continent to the impact of climate change despite contributing the least towards the climate crisis, particularly with reference to greenhouse gas emissions; also mindful of the fact that the impacts of climate change are cross- border in nature and that no country, region, or continent is immune to or can effectively address the negative effects of climate change alone;

Cognizant of the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the political, economic, social and security spaces in Africa that further limits African's capacity to respond and adapt to climate change impacts;

Noting the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Mohamad Omar Gad, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the AU and Chairperson ofthe PSC for November 2021, the statement read on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security and the statement read on behalf of H.E. Ambassador Josepha Saeko, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment;

Also noting the statements by H.E Ms Hannah Tetteh, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office to the African Union; H.E. Ambassador Wael Abou El-Magd, Board Member of the Green Climate Fund, H.E.

Ambassador Alastair McPhail, Ambassador ofthe United Kingdom to Ethiopia; and Ms. Zita Wilks, representative of the Chairperson of the Africa Group of Negotiators on Climate Change;

Reaffirming its solidarity with Member States adversely affected by the impact of climate change and the attendant negative effects on peace, security and stability;

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Expresses deep concern over the increasingly negative and disproportionate impact of climate change on the development gains in Africa as evidenced by extreme weather patterns manifesting as floods, droughts, heatwaves, forest fires, storms, cyclones, and slow-onset events such as the rise of sea levels and, changing and unpredictable rainfall patterns;

2. Acknowledges the wide-ranging risks of climate change, as a threat multiplier, to the peace and security landscape in the continent including on food and water insecurity, loss of livelihoods, failure of management of natural resources, the scarcity of water resources, climate- induced displacements, and possibly aggravating existing vulnerabilities, tensions and conflicts;

3. Welcomes Africa hosting the 27^th session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27) in 2022 in the Arab Republic of Egypt, and calls upon all Member States and the AU organs to support Egypt's presidency of COP27 to advance African priorities for a common position and concrete actions on global climate change;

4. Stresses the need for Member States to speak with one voice at global forums, with guidance from the Committee of African Heads of States and Governments on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) and the African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN), while supporting the African Group of Negotiators (AGN) to advance Africa's priorities in climate change negotiations, and to ensure effective and holistic responses to the impacts of climate change at the national, regional and continental levels;

5. Reiterates the importance of adhering to the common African position on climate change, in particular on Climate Finance and operationalization of the Global Goal on Adaptation, as Africa embarks on hosting COP27, with a view to investing in adaptation, preparedness and building resilience in line with supporting Africa's sustainable development endeavors, while providing special attention to the most vulnerable including women, youth and the elderly;

6. Commends the existing coordination between the Department for Agriculture, Rural Economy, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment with the Department for Political Affairs, Peace and Security of the AU Commission on climate change; in this regard, underlines the importance of strengthening this coordination between the two departments and widening the coordination with other AU Commission departments, including the Department for Social Affairs, the Department for Energy and Infrastructure, the Department of Education, Science and Technology, with a view to collating reliable data on climate change and integrating activities within the AU Commission in preparation for Africa's hosting of COP 27;

7. Underscores the importance of strengthening the capacities of the AU and its Member States, including through capacity building, training, and research activities within the Pan­African University, in particular, the Institute of Water, Energy and Climate Change (PAUWES) in Tlemcen (Algeria) and the Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping and Peacebuilding, to advance a holistic African perspective on the climate, security and development nexus;

8. Encourages strengthening the international partnerships of the AU and its Member States, including with the United Nations, and benefitting from the latter's engagements and assessments of climate, peace and security in Africa, as well as to further cooperation with international partners on availing climate financing and technical cooperation for adaptation to address climate-related security risks, taking into account the principles of respective national capacities and common but differentiated responsibilities;

9. Calls for the establishment of a Climate Change Fund to support measures to combat the

negative impacts of climate change, as well as the Continental Civil Capacity for Disaster Preparedness and Response, in accordance with the communiques ofthe two meetings ofthe Peace and Security Council, held at the level of Heads of State and Government on 9 March 2021 (984^th meeting) and 29 October 2021 (1043^rd meeting) respectively

10. Reiterates the need for the AU Commission and Member States to share experiences and best practices in addressing the adverse effects of climate change and instituting holistic national planning for development that addresses climate adaptation, and urges Member States to exchange information and to adequately cooperate on cross-border projects, in line with International Law, in order to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change on Member States;

11. Underlines the importance of adopting a climate-sensitive planning dimension in peacekeeping and post-conflict reconstruction and development efforts to prevent any relapse to armed conflicts in fragile communities, while ensuring its incorporation in national and continental early-warning activities;

12. Requests the AU Commission to expedite the finalization of a climate-related security risks assessment study, in consultation with Member States, and to define the varying security impacts of climate change on the African continent while taking steps towards mobilizing a common African position towards climate change and security;

13. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.