Regional Assessment for South-Eastern Europe: Security implications of climate change

Climate change is a risk multiplier and is affecting economies, the environment and societies in South-Eastern Europe in complex ways, according to a new report published by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and adelphi.

The report is part of the project “Strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia”, implemented by the OSCE in partnership with adelphi. Part of the project involved an extensive regional consultation process on climate change and security in South-Eastern Europe, which engaged representatives of governmental bodies, civil society organizations, and academia from the region, as well as regional and international organizations. This report outlines the results of this consultation process, which include:

• Seven climate-related risk clusters that are particularly relevant for regional security and stability, including agriculture, tourism, energy, health, and forests
• Seven specific geographic hotspots, such as shared river basins and shared mountain ecosystems
• Two regional challenges: including air pollution and migration
• Co-operation opportunities to address climate-related security risks