On 1 November, the Clingendael Institute and The Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in the Netherlands organized the roundtable meeting entitled “Building a Stable and Prosperous Democracy in Iraq: Food Security, Climate Change and Sustainable Development’’, where participants discussed the political, economic and security situation in Iraq, and opportunities for future engagement.

The Paris Peace Forum will be held to revive collective governance, international cooperation, norms and institutions at a time when global challenges have never been so pressing. It will feature projects and initiatives meant at improving global governance in five key domains: peace and security, environment, development, new technologies and inclusive economy.

A ground-breaking report by the University of Texas  for USAID points out how climate hazards like  cyclones, floods, wildfires, rainfall anomalies and chronic water scarcity relate to state fragility. Climate hazards put an enormous strain on the effectiveness and legitimacy in economics, politics, security and the social sphere.

Accelerating energy transition, strengthening climate resilience and boosting sustainable development goals are the priorities that the SIDS (Small Island Developing States) set for themselves  with the initiative Lighthouse 2.0.

In 2017 a record-high $300 billion was invested in renewable energy sources worldwide (compared to $700 billion for oil and gas). Energy production is gradually but steadily shifting to more renewable sources. The report by the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) investigated the mid- and long-term implications of what is considered to be a systemic shift - in many realms and of global proportions.

For the first time on October 16th the UN Secretary-General António Guterres devoted a full speech in the UNSC on the necessity for states to cooperate over natural resources and to use them as sources of development to strengthen peace.

Among critical issues arising from climate change, three crucial moments came under the spotlight for climate security: SIDS push for greater action against climate change effects, the Netherlands at the Group of Friends on Climate and Security and a ministerial discussion on climate security as a root cause of conflicts.