UAE, UN Climate Security Mechanism Join Hands To Address Climate Change Challenges

The United Arab Emirates announced a partnership with the United Nations Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), pledging an investment of $1.2 million to address the global challenges related to climate change.

As part of this partnership, the UAE will contribute $600,000 annually for two years to enhance the United Nations' capacity to address the complex links between climate change, peace, and security.

The UAE becomes the first donor from the Global South to support the CSM.

Abdulla Balalaa, Assistant Minister for Energy Transition and Sustainability Affairs, noted that the UAE has consistently sought to address the enormous risks of climate change on the UN Security Council.

"Today, we take another important step in our commitment to proactive diplomacy and international collaboration on pressing global issues," Balalaa was cited as saying by WAM. He added that this partnership reinforces the UAE's support for "vital climate peace and security programming around the world as well as dedicated funding for a climate advisor in Afghanistan to assess and mitigate the serious climate security risks in the country."

Furthermore, with this collaboration, the UAE will finance a Climate Security Advisor role within the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), tasked with evaluating climate-related security threats and aiding in the formulation of risk prevention and management plans.

"Afghanistan is one of the top 10 climate vulnerable countries on the globe – experiencing water shortages, floods, and other natural disasters that the country has little to no capacity to manage," Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the UN, said.

"We also know that targeted policy interventions and scaling up of climate adaptation measures can help address food insecurity and decrease humanitarian needs that are driven by climate change," Abushahab added.

Rosemary DiCarlo, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, expressed her enthusiasm to collaborate with the UAE, noting that this partnership promises a positive impact on global climate, peace, and security initiatives including those for Afghanistan.

"The commitment of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs and the Climate Security Mechanism to implementing the COP28 UAE Climate, Relief, Recovery and Peace Declaration is steadfast," DiCarlo added.