BONN, Germany— As climate shocks place growing pressure on already vulnerable communities, African climate negotiators are pushing for a new approach that links climate action with peace, security and development, warning that resilience must become central to the continent’s climate agenda.
The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) on Climate Change made the call during the African Union Commission (AUC)-AGN Consultative Meeting on Climate, Peace and Security in Bonn, where policymakers, negotiators and technical experts met to strengthen Africa’s position on the growing intersection between climate change, peacebuilding and security.
Speaking at the meeting, AGN Chair, **Nana Dr. Antwi-Boasiako Amoah**, said Africa’s climate diplomacy must be grounded in the realities confronting communities across the continent, where climate impacts are increasingly interacting with existing challenges such as food insecurity, water scarcity, displacement, livelihood losses and governance pressures.
“Africa is not approaching climate, peace and security as an abstract policy discussion,” Dr. Amoah said. “For millions of people across our continent, climate impacts are already affecting livelihoods, food systems, water availability, mobility and community resilience. Our response must therefore be practical, prevention-focused and rooted in the lived realities of our people.”
He stressed that climate change should not be viewed as a direct cause of conflict but rather as a factor that amplifies existing vulnerabilities and places additional strain on already fragile communities and institutions.
“Climate change does not mechanically or directly cause conflict. However, it acts as a risk multiplier and is already deepening vulnerabilities and increasing pressure where communities and institutions are already stretched,” he said. “Addressing climate risks is therefore an investment in resilience, stability and peace.”
The consultative meeting brought together representatives from the African Union Commission, the United Nations Office to the African Union, AGN lead negotiators and technical partners to strengthen alignment between Africa’s climate diplomacy and the continent’s emerging Climate, Peace and Security agenda.
Discussions focused on how climate adaptation, resilience-building and sustainable development interventions can contribute to conflict prevention and community stability, particularly in regions facing multiple climate-related risks.
Looking ahead to COP31 and COP32, Dr. Amoah called for greater efforts to ensure climate finance reaches communities most exposed to both climate impacts and insecurity.
“Climate finance must be accessible, predictable and responsive to the realities of vulnerable communities, including those in fragile and conflict-affected contexts,” he said. “The people facing the greatest climate risks should not be left behind because of the complexity of financing systems.”
The AGN maintains that strengthening resilience through adaptation, sustainable development and inclusive climate finance is essential to safeguarding livelihoods, reducing vulnerabilities and supporting long-term peace and stability across Africa.
As climate impacts continue to intensify across the continent, African negotiators say future climate action must move beyond emissions and adaptation targets to address the broader social, economic and security dimensions of the climate crisis.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
