The profiles highlight the urgency of climate actions to address the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security, and well-being faced by Pacific peoples.

Sharm El-Sheik, Egypt – The Government of Tuvalu, in partnership with the Government of Kiribati, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and with the support of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), convened a side event on the margins of the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to present the high-level summaries of the National Climate Security Risk Assessment Profiles for Tuvalu, Kiribati, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Conducted by the think-tank Adelphi under the joint UNDP-IOM Climate Security in the Pacific project in close collaboration with the Governments of the three countries, the profiles will provide the governments of the three countries, development partners, and decision-makers with scientific, and socio-economic data, evidence of climate-induced insecurities and potential risks of climate-induced conflicts and concrete possible solutions to address climate security issues in the Pacific.

While complementing previous work made by other donors and development partners in the region, the assessment profiles specifically spotlight the security considerations and peacebuilding aspects related to climate change. 

As made clear by the Tuvalu Permanent Representative to the United Nations Samuelu Laloniu in his opening remarks, the climate crisis poses an existential threat to low-lying atolls in the Pacific.

“When talking about security in the Pacific, we are talking about the human dimensions of climate change. COP27 represents the ideal occasion for Pacific leaders to highlight the threats that climate change is posing to our peace and security”, Ambassador Laloniu said.