Taking Climate Security Forward in the OSCE

Jun 15, 2022 | Anniek Barnhoorn
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There is growing international recognition that climate change impacts and security challenges—along with their solutions—are increasingly linked. In a new, complex of era of risk, we need to recognize both traditional ‘hard’ security and environmental challenges as part of a larger security space.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has long embraced a comprehensive approach to security that takes account of environmental issues. This has largely focused on areas like natural resource management and managing hazardous waste and substances, but until recently addressing climate-related risks has not been at the core. In December last year the 28th OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Stockholm adopted a decision on ‘strengthening co-operation to address the challenges caused by climate change’.