The fact that climate change may create new, or exacerbate existing security threats is sometimes considered yesterday's news. How real this threat already has become was, however, rarely made more explicit than at the presentation of the annual report of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU) at the 17th Forum on Global Issues. For two days, over 300 international participants discussed the results of the report, the related challenges and policy options. Participants agreed that the report's projected 15 years left for avoiding the most severe consequences of climate change – which would occur with an increase of global temperature by 2°C – is a rather short time frame. The urgency to act is additionally sped-up by the fact that global warming of 1°C compared to pre-industrial time has already been reached. One panellist used the metaphor of a short, narrow landing strip to describe this situation – perhaps too short and narrow considering the inertness of international negotiations and political cycles.
Srgjan Kerim, President-elect of the 62nd UN General Assembly (GA), stated that during his term in 2007-2008 he will put the debate on linkages between climate and security on the agenda of the GA. According to Kerim, the GA would be the ideal place to discuss the issue in depth and to reconcile the interests of all states. German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier also highlighted the need to reconcile diverging interests during the final session: A new policy of détente and inclusiveness is necessary. Its foundation must be the development of global and regional mechanisms for shared resource use and peaceful conflict resolution. This will be necessary, not only to reach the 2°C aim – and touch down on that landing strip - but also to prepare the international community in case of failure. (Achim Maas)

Information on the 17th Forum can be found at: http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/diplo/en/Aussenpolitik/Globales/ForumGF/17GF-Klimawandel.html

The flagship report "World in Transition – Climate Change as a Security Risk" and the summary for policy-makers can be downloaded at http://www.wbgu.de/wbgu_jg2007_engl.html

Published in:ECC-Newsletter, August 2007