While responsible for only 4% of global carbon dioxide emissions, 57% of the countries facing the highest double burden of climate exposure and political fragility risks are located in sub-Saharan Africa. Despite these challenges, there is little understanding of how the African Union (AU) is discussing and responding to the security implications of climate change.
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) published a background report outlining an overview of the climate security landscape of the African Union. An overview of the framework of the AU is provided and the institutional responses and policy implementation of four thematic policy areas are analyzed. These policy areas include food security, peace and conflict, human security and energy and natural resource crisis.
The authors analyzed 16 policy frameworks and the main findings reflect that the AU is increasingly recognizing different security risks. Its discourse is rapidly developing towards more integrated responses to climate-related security risks. However, interviewed experts stressed the AU is yet to establish clear leadership for mobilizing the implementation of policies responding to climate related security risks.
Besides this background paper, a policy brief is published outlining the key strengths of the AU’s response, such as the rapidly evolving discourse around climate security and efforts to improve collaboration and coordination among different parts of the institution. But also, key weaknesses in the discourse around AU policy responses, such as the lack of tangible policy operationalization as well as financial unpreparedness and limited member state accountability are covered. Recommendations on advancing the understanding of the risks and respond to it within the AU are included as well.
Read the recommendations in the policy brief, or obtain an in-depth understanding of the developments within the African Union by reading the background paper.
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