Ambassador Manalo to UN Security Council: Climate vulnerable countries should receive support and resources
“International cooperation is indispensable. Climate change knows no boundaries and we have no control of the actions and inaction beyond our borders. Stronger synergies among states through deeper international cooperation is imperative.” Ambassador Manalo UN Security Council, 09 December 2021 Photo Credit to the United Nations Photo Library.( Photo from NYPM)
UNITED NATIONS, NEW YORK, 13 December 2021 – Ambassador Enrique A. Manalo, Permanent Representative of the Philippine Mission to the United Nations, delivered the Philippine statement during the UN Security Council High-level Open Debate on Security in the context of Terrorism and Climate Change.
He stated that, for an archipelagic state such as the Philippines, climate change is an existential threat. “Climate-vulnerable countries like the Philippines should receive the support and resources they need. These countries can then allocate more of their national resources addressing the more traditional drivers of conflicts,” he stressed.
The Ambassador further said that the Council should carefully examine the dynamics between climate change and terrorism and that any Security Council action on the matter should involve all Member States and not just a few.
Ambassador Manalo highlighted the need to develop better risk assessment and mitigation strategies for climate-related disasters; create synergies among states through deeper international cooperation; harness international law; provide requisite to climate-vulnerable countries; and fortify structures and build resilience of those first impacted by climate-related events.
Ambassador Manalo also emphasized that the Security Council should maintain its sharp focus on addressing security issues. The Council should not overstretch its arms to deal with climate issues already being addressed by the proper forums such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger and Security Council President for December presided over the high-level debate. In his national capacity, he noted the interplay between climate change effects and peace and security wherein climate change exacerbates human insecurities and inequalities leading to intercommunal conflicts and violent extremism and large-scale crimes, including recruitment of young people into the networks of criminal and terrorist groups. He likewise underlined that it is time for the Council to adopt the resolution proposed by Niger and Ireland that would allow a coordinated approach to strengthen the Council’s understanding of the impact of climate change on peace and security. END
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