As the world’s leaders gathered in Baku, Azerbaijan, for the 29th UN Climate Change Conference, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC), Virginia Gamba, reminds that it is critical to pay attention to the interlinkages between climate, peace and security and the children and armed conflict agendas.
A year after the publication of a discussion paper called ‘Climate Insecurity Impacts on Children and Armed Conflict’, a more proactive approach is needed to better understand and respond to the needs of children affected both by armed conflict and climate insecurity. Specifically, the study confirmed the link between climate insecurity and the CAAC grave violations of recruitment and use and denial of humanitarian access to children.
“From the Lake Chad basin to Syria, from Mozambique to Myanmar, in 2024, children have been the most impacted both by armed conflict and climate insecurity. Yet, children affected by armed conflict still remain largely absent from the ongoing climate, peace, and security discussions. We must change our approach to include these children if looking for inclusive and sustainable solutions,” said Virginia Gamba who added: “Incorporating a climate perspective in our monitoring and reporting also remains fundamental to better tailor our actions to end and prevent grave violations against children in armed conflict.”
Some countries on the Children and Armed Conflict agenda are experiencing first-hand the amplifying impact of climate insecurity. This includes Nigeria, where numerous schools have been closed due to armed conflict since 2009 while floods amplify the impact of the conflict on education. In Syria, the humanitarian needs keep increasing following years of conflict but also recent climatic shocks, such as droughts, heatwaves, and a water crisis. In the Cabo Delgado province of Mozambique, children have been experiencing insecurity due to both armed conflict and climate-related stressors and as a result, have been displaced multiple times as depicted in detail in last year’s study.
The Special Representative calls on all leaders not to overlook children affected by conflict in their climate, peace and security discussions, but also in their financial commitments to supporting sustainable solutions for both peace and climate. “In a context where CAAC is often underfunded in humanitarian responses, supporting flexible funding for emergency response that considers both children affected by armed conflict and climate peace and security can have a multiplier effect and provide sustainable solutions to different yet closely linked issues. We will continue to point out these linkages,” added Virginia Gamba.
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For more information, please contact:
Ariane Lignier, Communications Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict: ariane.lignier@un.org
Fabienne Vinet, Political Affairs Officer, Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict: vinet@un.org
