Russia’s ‘Nyet’ Does Not Mean Climate Security Is off the Security Council Agenda

Dec 13, 2021 | Florian Krampe and Cedric de Coning
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On Monday, 13 December, Russia used its veto in the United Nations Security Council to block a thematic resolution on climate change and security put forward by Ireland and Niger. Russia has made clear many times before that it opposes broadening of the Security Council’s agenda, not least to cover climate-related security issues. Putting forward this new resolution was important. But, in the end, Russia’s veto was predictable, as were India’s ‘no’ vote and China’s abstention. 

Putting the resolution to the vote pitched these 3 countries against a group of 12 Security Council members and at least 113 non-members who co-sponsored the resolution—which makes it the draft resolution with the second highest number of co-sponsors in Security Council history.

On the other hand, plenty can be done—and is already being done—to build up the UN’s work on climate-related security risks that cannot be blocked by a Security Council veto. In the past few years, the resolution’s supporters and opponents have largely been talking past each other. As this happens, the case that climate change does not belong on the Security Council agenda will become harder and harder to make.