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Morocco called on Monday before the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU-PSC) to integrate environmental considerations into national security and counterterrorism strategies in the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.
Speaking at an AU PSC meeting on “The Impact of Climate Change on the Crisis Situation in the Lake Chad Basin and the Sahel Region,” the Moroccan delegation called for the full integration of the climate, peace, and security dimension into AU’s new strategy for the Sahel, following the example of the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s strategy for stabilization, recovery, and resilience against Boko Haram, which includes environmental sustainability in its sixth pillar of intervention.
It also advocated for accelerating the finalization of the African Common Position on the link between climate, peace, and security, further commending the Sahel Climate Commission for its leadership in addressing climate challenges.
On another note, the delegation emphasized that Africa, although responsible for only a marginal share of global greenhouse gas emissions, remains one of the continents hardest hit by the effects of climate change.
This results in profound disruptions to weather patterns, a disturbance of natural balances, rising sea levels, and the degradation of marine and agricultural ecosystems, the delegation continued.
It noted that these dynamics give rise to multidimensional challenges, particularly in the Sahel and the Lake Chad basin, namely food insecurity, rising unemployment linked to weakening agricultural and pastoral sectors, the spread of diseases aggravated by environmental degradation, as well as massive population displacements.
According to the delegation, environmental degradation also acts as a risk multiplier for conflicts, underscoring the urgency of a comprehensive approach linking climate, peace, security, and development, in accordance with the guidelines of the African Union’s Strategy on Climate Change and Resilient Development (2022–2032).
The delegation further noted that, at its 1,263rd meeting, the Peace and Security Council emphasized the need to integrate climate issues into peace, security, and development policies, calling for accelerated research on the climate-conflict nexus and for the inclusive strengthening of critical systems.
The PSC also underscored the importance of finalizing a common African position on climate, peace, and security, reaffirming the need for inclusive African adaptation and resilience strategies that fully integrate women and youth, while calling for increased support through climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building, the delegation added.
Source: map
