ADMiR Director represented ASRIC in AU Retreat on Climate Change, Peace, and Security Nexus
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, May 9-11, 2024
Prof. Mohamed ElGabry, Director of the African Disaster Mitigation Research Center (ADMiR), actively participated in the Interdepartmental Retreat on the Climate Change, Peace, and Security Nexus, organized by the African Union's Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Department in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment (ARBE). The retreat aimed to advance the methodology for developing the Common African Position (CAP) on Climate Change, Peace, and Security and to foster stronger collaboration across AU departments and partners.
The three-day retreat convened AU departments, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), research organizations, and development partners to explore the intricate links between climate change, peace, and security in Africa. Participants identified critical policy gaps and examined practical approaches to mitigate the cascading risks posed by climate change on socio-political stability across the continent.
Distinguished Presentations
The retreat featured contributions from prominent experts, diplomats, and policymakers, including:
- Dr. Alhadji Sarjoh Bah – Director of Conflict Management, AU PAPS Department
- Harsen Nyambe – Director of Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy, AU ARBE Department
- H.E. Amb. Jennifer Lee Morgan – German Special Envoy for International Climate Policy
- H.E. Amb. Anthony Agotha – Ambassador at Large, European External Action Service
- Amb. Mohamed Nasr – Director of Climate, Environment, and Sustainable Development, Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and COP27 Lead Negotiator
- Amb. Ahmed Abdel-Latif – Director-General, Cairo International Centre for Conflict Resolution, Peacekeeping, and Peacebuilding
Other speakers included Amb. Sinead Walsh from the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, Myan Tantawy representing the UAE Permanent Mission to the UN and COP28 Presidency, and Dr. Seth Osafo, Legal Adviser to the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change.
Key Outcomes and Next Steps
The retreat emphasized the importance of cooperation between PAPS and ARBE in addressing the climate-peace-security nexus. Key recommendations included:
- Development of the Common African Position (CAP) to provide a unified African approach to addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, peace, and security.
- Establishing a collaborative framework through the AU Climate Security Cluster to effectively manage climate security risks in Africa.
- Convening regional consultation workshops across the five AU regions to gather input for the CAP.
- Presenting the CAP at COP29 in Azerbaijan, scheduled for November 2024.
To build on the outcomes of the CAP, the AU will hold a workshop of climate security experts and partners in March 2025 to develop a comprehensive African Strategy and Action Plan on the Climate Change, Peace, and Security Nexus.
Prof. Mohamed ElGabry's participation underlines ADMiR’s commitment to supporting continental efforts to strengthen resilience against climate-related risks through collaboration, research, and policy integration. His contributions to the discussions reflect ADMiR’s expertise in disaster mitigation and emphasize the role of scientific insights in addressing Africa’s complex climate-security challenges.
