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The European External Action Service (EEAS) & Climate Change

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After the US election, the EU is expected to show leadership on climate action. Integrating climate change into instability and risk assessments is key for the EEAS's strategy.

The interview was conducted at the Planetary Security Conference in The Hague, 5-6 December 2016.

"For me, especially after the US selection, the EU is being called more than before to lead on climate and it includes being strong on climate diplomacy to implement Paris but also to address this complex nexus of climate and security.

And as you know, many of our member states are very worried about the implications in terms of migration. So for the EU it is a question of connecting the dots, we have got a lot of tools already available, we work on humanitarian affairs – our Directorate-General ECHO is extremely good at assessing risk and proposing response measures, our development cooperation is also working on a longer term - addressing and mainstreaming climate change in all of its planning. And at the same time, the EEAS, coming from a conflict perspective, is integrating climate change as an element of instability and risk in its assessments.

I think there is a lot of progress. It is still an impressionist painting. We have got pieces and bits and touches of colour being connected more and more. And I think behind that, the Global Strategy that Ms. Mogherini released in June this year provides a blueprint for integrating these different elements: climate, security but also implementation of Paris."

Pascal Delisle is Adviser on Climate Change, Economic and Global Issues at the European External Action Service (EEAS).