Goal 13: Climate action
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Climate change affects every country on every continent. Weather patterns are changing, sea levels are rising, weather events are becoming more extreme and greenhouse gas emissions are now at their highest levels in history.
Climate change is a global challenge that does not respect national borders and requires solutions that need to be co-ordinated at the international level. Once considered to be a purely environmental issue, climate change is increasingly being included as an inherent element of national and international security agendas. It is seen as a threat multiplier that exacerbates existing threats to security and environmental stress, adding to pressures that can push the responsive capacities of governments to their limits. The OSCE creates awareness of the security implications of climate change and supports the development and implementation of transboundary climate change adaptation strategies.
OSCE’s contribution to global development agenda from an economic and environmental perspective
My office held a first in a series of webinars on the economic and environmental impacts of COVID-19 and its security implications.
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Story - Article - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities - Economic activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension
Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA)
Within the Secretariat, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) addresses security-related economic and environmental issues as part of OSCE's comprehensive approach to security. In the OSCE Economic and Environmental Dimension, the OCEEA is active in the following areas:
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Page - About - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities
Water Management
Water is a strategic natural resource and an essential element of national and regional security. Water scarcity, including lack of access to water, and water pollution can threaten socio-economic development and political stability and security. Water management challenges can potentially trigger disputes and conflicts; equally, water management can also create valuable opportunities for co-operation and dialogue. The international community, academia, the business community and policy makers are aware of the risks water crises can pose to security, and the additional stress put on water resources by climate change.
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Page - Activities - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities - Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Water management, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension
Climate Change
Climate change is a threat to sustainable development. Its impacts are being felt all around the world and also in the OSCE region. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, more severe and more widespread affecting the lives of millions of people. Its adverse impacts on human health, ecosystems, and natural resources, particularly water, are becoming more and more visible. National economies are disrupted with costly impacts of climate change. Energy, agriculture, forestry, tourism, and insurance are among the major economic sectors that are likely to be affected from the impacts of climate change. As it brings a number of direct and indirect consequences that shape security landscapes, climate change is considered as a “threat multiplier”.
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Page - Activities - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities - Climate change, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension
Environment and Security Initiative
The Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative grew out of discussions at the OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum. It was launched in May 2003, simultaneously at the Fifth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference in Kiev and the OSCE 11th Economic and Environmental Forum in Prague. Founded initially by the OSCE, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and UN Environment, the partnership was later on joined by other organizations. Currently, it is a partnership of OSCE, UNDP, UN Environment, and United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Its primary objective is to tackle environment and security risks through promoting environmental co-operation among and within the countries of four regions, namely Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.
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Page - Activities - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities - Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension
Energy Security
Energy security means having stable access to energy sources on a timely, sustainable and affordable basis. Access to energy is not only crucial in supporting the provision of basic needs- such as food, lighting, water, and essential health care, but it is first and foremost a precondition to economic growth, political stability and prosperity. This is why energy security forms an important part of the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security.
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Page - Activities - Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities - Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Energy security, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension
OSCE supports tenth annual Central Asia environmental leadership programme in Kazakhstan
The OSCE-supported tenth annual Central Asian Leadership Programme (CALP) took place from 15 to 22 September 2019 in Almaty. Some 70 young environmental leaders, CALP alumni from the Central Asian countries and Afghanistan, representatives from the government and international organizations participated in the event.
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News - OSCE Programme Office in Astana - Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Youth, Cross-dimensional
Climate, Conflict and Gender
Interview with Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change, and founder of the Mary Robinson Foundation.
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Blog Article / Security Community Article - Security Community - Climate change, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Conflict prevention and resolution, Politico-military dimension, Gender equality, Cross-dimensional
Inclusion of women in decision-making on environment-related security challenges is key for equitable, safe and stable societies concludes OSCE event
Vienna, 5 July 2019 – Including women at all stages of the planning and decision-making processes in environmental security enables more effective and sustainable responses to the challenges we face, stressed participants at today’s High-Level Discussion on Promoting the Role of Women in Addressing Environment and Security Challenges.
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Press Release - OSCE Chairmanship - Climate change, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Disaster risk reduction, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Environmental good governance, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Gender equality, Cross-dimensional, Hazardous waste management, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension, Water management, Environmental activities, Economic and environmental dimension
Co-operation on implementation of SDGs can be a positive example of effective multilateralism, say participants at OSCE Security Days event
VIENNA, 4 June 2019 – About 180 diplomats, experts and civil society representatives gathered today at the United Nations Vienna headquarters today to discuss the OSCE’s contribution to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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Press Release - OSCE Chairmanship - Conflict prevention and resolution, Politico-military dimension