The World Economic Forum 2019 has concluded, with climate change and its policy responses dominating the final day of debate. Environment-related risks also dominated the Global Risks Perception Survey (GRPS) as part of the Global Risks Report 2019 for the third year in a row. The report notes that biodiversity loss in the human food chain is affecting socioeconomic development, with implications for regional security in addition well-being and productivity.

Free Press Unlimited and the Stanley Foundation are bringing regional and local journalists from ten countries together to participate in the Planetary Security Conference 2019. In a four-day programme, the journalists will engage with policymakers and others to report on climate and security topics. They will also share their own perspectives as local journalists experiencing climate impacts first-hand.

New research visualising the contribution of climate stress to rising tensions in the Sahel was launched yesterday by the Igarapé Institute and Earthtime.org in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). It coincided with a session on ‘Ending Violence in the Sahel’ at the World Economic Forum 2019 in Davos, featuring Igarapé Director Robert Muggah and ICRC President Peter Maurer.

On Friday 25th January 2019, the UN Security Council will hold an open debate addressing the impacts of climate-related disasters on international peace and security (at 4pm CET and 10am EST). President Danilo Medina of the Dominican Republic will chair the meeting, which will also include the participation of several member states at ministerial level.

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has published a new report on the geopolitical implications of the global energy transformation driven by renewables, which argues the transition is likely to diffuse power and reduce energy-related conflict.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence has launched a new report which places climate and related risks among the highest impact and certainty threats to defence and security. ‘The Future Starts Today’, the sixth edition of the Global Strategic Trends report, identifies increasing environmental stress as one of six key trends up to 2045 that require action.

This year, participants of the Planetary Security Conference will have a unique opportunity to play the Climate & Security Strategic Capability Game, a serious board game developed jointly by The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS) and the Clingendael Institute.

According to the French Ministry of Defence, climate change, combined with other political, economic, demographic and social factors, is degrading human security and global stability. It undermines the resilience of the most fragile states, whose populations are the first victims and are thus likely to favour the emergence of conflicts or crises.