Report by Maldives National Broadcasting Cooperation, MNBC
on 1st December 2011
Thursday 1 December 2011
“Regional Collaboration is Crucial to Key Developments in Security Risks Caused by Climate Change Affects,” Vice President
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| Vice President Dr. Waheed, Maldives |
During his speech, the Vice President stated that the adverse affects of climate change is a threat not only to the individual country, but contributively to the whole South Asian region. The Vice President further said that climate change continues to threaten the vulnerability of the Maldives and that regional cooperation was required for the survival of small island states. In particular, the Vice President emphasized on problematic areas of coastal area destruction and the limitation of fresh water and water resources faced by island nations.
Roundtable in Male’ highlights implications of climate change for regional and national security, ahead of high level talks at CoP 17 in Durban
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| Session chaired by Mr Ahmed Shafeeq Moosa |
Traders Hotel, Male', Maldives
Stories of the citizens from the
disappearing islands of the Maldives, flood-affected communities in the
Sundarbans of Bangladesh and the drought affected communities in the water
scarce hills of Nepal, all in their own ways struggling to cope with the
impacts of climate change, are increasingly permeating mainstream consciousness
within those countries whose carbon intensive development over the past 100
years has been contributing to these situations. At the same time,
international donors from these developed countries are creating new aid funds
in an attempt to help the vulnerable cope with the impacts of climate change we
are already feeling.
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| Members briefing the Maldivian Vice President |
With the next round of high level
global climate change talks starting in Durban this week, the high profile
issues for agreement are about reducing carbon emissions and – more importantly
for the affected communities – how much money the developed countries, who have
the main responsibility for global warming, will put on the negotiating table
to help people in poorer countries cope with the consequences. But these are
not the only important issues.
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| The delegates from Pakistan, the Maldivian Vice President |
One issue that is barely
acknowledged is the heightened risk of political instability and conflict
related to climate change. Factors linking climate change to an increased
potential for instability and conflict include water scarcity, accelerated land
degradation, increased food insecurity, and indeed the management of the
climate funds themselves. The meeting of the South Asian Network on Security
and Climate Change (SANSaC) in Male’ on the 1st December brought together
experts from the climate change and security community to initiate a much
needed regional dialogue on these issues.
The roundtable was organised in
collaboration with the President’s Office of the Government of the Maldives and
International Alert (an international peacebuilding organisation). The event
was supported by the British High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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| The roundtable in session |
The dialogue was inaugurated by
the Vice President of the Maldives, Dr. Mohamed Waheed, who will lead the
Maldivian delegation to CoP 17 in Durban. SANSaC members from the Bangladesh
Institute for Peace and Security Studies, the National Centre for Competence in
Research in Nepal, the University of Karachi in Pakistan, the Observer Research
Foundation in India and International Alert also spoke at the event. Mr. Ahmed
Shafeeq Moosa, the President’s Envoy for Science and Technology, outlined the Maldivian
Climate Change policy and advocacy outreach. Significantly, the event also
marked the establishment of the SANSaC Secretariat in Male’, with the full
support of the Maldivian Government.
At the conclusion of the event
SANSaC members issued a statement outlining key issues for advocacy during the
high level talks at CoP 17 in Durban.
SANSaC Male’ Statement on Climate Change and Security
The South Asia Network of Climate Change and Security, having met in Male’ on the 1st of December 2011 to discuss opportunities and challenges related to climate change and security in South Asia, offer the following views to the Parties and Governments of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Acknowledging the heightened risk of political instability and conflict related to climate change;
Noting that the factors linking climate change to an increased potential for instability and conflict include water scarcity, accelerated land degradation, increased food insecurity and the management of climate funds;
Believing that enhancing trust, cooperation and coordination amongst key South Asian stakeholders on climate change related security issues can also be a step towards greater trust and cooperation on other conflict issues;
The South Asia Network for Climate Change and Security therefore:
1. Calls on governments to facilitate ‘decentralised water diplomacy’ that involves a broader group of stakeholders at local level, and particularly across the region.
2. Calls on governments and international institutions to better understand the dynamics and diverse causal factors of climate related migration, to promote timely, peace positive governance of rural-urban and trans-boundary migration.
3. Calls on governments to take leadership on improving rural and urban food security, in particular to ensure climate sensitive food production, equitable distribution and sustainable consumption.
Members:
1. Major General Muniruzzaman, President, Bangladesh Institute for Peace and Security Studies.
2. Mr. Ahmed Shafeeq Moosa, President’s Envoy for Science and Technology, Government of the Maldives.
3. Dr. Bishnu Upreti, South Asia Regional Coordinator, National Centre for Competence in Research, Nepal.
4. Dr. Moazzam Ali Khan, Director, Institute of Environmental Studies, University of Karachi, Pakistan.
5. Ms. Lydia Powell, Head, Centre for Resources Management, Observer Research Foundation, India.
6. Mr. Johann Rebert, Country Representative, International Alert, Sri Lanka.
7. Dr. Markus Mayer, South Asia Regional Programme Manager, International Alert.
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