EU-UNEP Partnership on Climate, Environment, Peace & Security
Overview
In 2017, the European Union (EU) and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) established a Partnership on Climate Change, Environment, Peace & Security to support fragile and crisis-affected regions, countries and communities to identify environment and climate-related security risks at the community, national and global levels, and to programme effective risk reduction and response measures.
In its first phase (2017-2022), the partnership delivered global, national, and local analysis of climate-security risks, successfully tested integrated programming approaches to resilience-building in conflict-affected and fragile settings and strengthened institutional capacities to address climate-related security risks through training, and technical support. Phase 2 (2022-2027) aims to address critical gaps in data and capacity for analysis, policy formulation and intervention design in order to help scale preventive action on climate-related security risks to the transboundary and regional levels, where critical ecosystems are shared by communities and States.
What We Do
The Partnership supports partners at community, state and regional levels to build resilience to the impacts of climate change on transboundary peace and security dynamics. It does so by:
- fostering local solutions by providing capacity-building and technical assistance to communities for locally owned, science-based, conflict-sensitive climate action, with a focus on nature-based solutions.
- connecting practitioners within and across regions through platforms that build communities of practice and foster cooperation between local and regional actors.
- closing the policy–practice loop by supporting evidence-based decision-making, documenting and sharing good practices and lessons learnt on integrated action for climate, peace and security.
- addressing gaps in data and institutional capacity for analysis, policy formulation, and intervention design, particularly focusing on transboundary climate-security linkages in vulnerable regions.
Where We Work
Interactive Map: Regional Projects
1. West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire)
2. Horn of Africa (Abyei)
3. Middle East (Lebanon)
4. Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan)
5. South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan)
6. Latin America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador)
Latin America (Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia, and Ecuador)
West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire)
Helping communities in the border region of Bounkani manage water and land sustainably, reduce conflict risks, and build resilience through inclusive climate-smart solutions.
Download project report (in French) on integrated water points for climate adaptation
Horn of Africa (Abyei)
Supporting inter-communal dialogue and climate-smart livelihoods in Abyei to reduce conflict over land and water and strengthen food security.
Middle East (Lebanon)
Strengthening the resilience of farming communities in northern Lebanon to the impacts of climate change on agricultural systems and fostering regional cooperation on conflict-sensitive adaptation.
Fact Sheet: EN
Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan)
Empowering communities in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan with local grants, tools and solutions to address climate and environmental related risks while promoting social cohesion and socioeconomic stability in the region.
South Asia (Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan)
Implemented in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, the “Promoting anticipatory actions to address climate and environment risks for community transformation” (PROAACT) project aims to strengthen the resilience of target communities to climate and environmental risks that threaten peace and socioeconomic stability.
Tools and Resources
The Partnership provides open tools and resources to help integrate climate security risk analysis and approaches into planning, programming and policy frameworks.
- Strata Geospatial Platform
A free online tool that brings together climate, environment, conflict, and socio-economic data. It helps identify hotspots, plan responses, and track results. - Knowledge Hub on Locally Led Action
A one-stop resource center of guidance, toolkits, and case studies for conflict-sensitive climate adaptation. - Action Toolkit
A step-by-step guide for communities and organisations to design and implement locally led, conflict-sensitive adaptation plans. - Online Course
An e-learning package (English and French) that introduces the links between climate, environment, peace, and security, with practical tools and case studies.
Partners & Governance
The Partnership is implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), with financial and strategic support from the European Union, working in close cooperation with a wide range of regional, national and local stakeholders, as well as the EU and UN systems, to ensure inclusive, evidence-based and context-sensitive action.