As part of Protection of Civilians Week 2022, SIPRI co-hosted a panel discussion titled ‘Protecting the Environment is Protecting Civilians: Environmental and Climate Tools in Peace Operations’. The event was held in a virtual format on 26 May on the margins of the annual United Nations Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians.
SIPRI was represented by Dr Florian Krampe, Senior Researcher and Director of the Climate Change and Risk Programme, who was one of the panellists.
The event brought together experts and representatives from international organizations such as the UN, UN member states, civil society organizations, and environment and climate research institutions. The panel examined the environmental and climate capacities—existing and proposed—of peace operations and international interventions in conflict and at-risk settings. It also discussed conflict-linked environmental degradation and climate concerns that affect both civilians and the effectiveness of peace operations. Further, the discussion sought to explore how the inclusion and broader propagation of environmental and climate-related prevention, mitigation and response tools in peace operations can contribute to immediate and longer-term protection capacities.
The event was co-organized by SIPRI, the governments of Costa Rica and Switzerland, and PAX.
Watch the recording of the event here.