Next steps towards an inclusive Climate, Peace and Security agenda

As exclusion is a key driver of climate vulnerability, insecurity and conflict, climate action for peace can only happen in conjunction with a focus on inclusion. However, despite advancements in the Climate, Peace and Security agenda, marginalised groups are often left out of conversations. This practical note calls on climate, peace and security researchers, practitioners and policymakers to mainstream inclusion throughout all their areas of work.

Evidence from integrated climate security programming to date shows that climate action can bring opportunities for peace and serve as an entry point for peacebuilding interventions. In recognition of the need for integrated action, the Climate, Peace and Security (CPS) agenda has made great strides in recent years, evolving from a focus on understanding complex climate security risks towards acting to address them. Yet despite these advancements, marginalised groups – such as women, youth, people with disabilities, and indigenous communities – are often left out of the conversation. 

Participatory approaches to designing climate and peace interventions can improve outcomes by integrating different types of expertise, knowledge and perspectives on the causes and impacts of problems, and supporting trust-building among stakeholders to aid in later implementation.

Looking to address gaps and support inclusion approaches, adelphi research and the United Nations System Staff College (UNSSC) organised an interactive workshop, bringing together diverse experts to discuss how a focus on inclusion can help bring new perspectives to the CPS agenda. The event aimed at informing discussions around inclusion and suggesting concrete solutions for fostering action to address climate security risks, especially in fragile and conflict-affected contexts. 

This practical note captures key takeaways from the workshop and suggests way forward by outlining stakeholder-specific recommendations.