Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Thank you to the COP29 Presidency and IOM for organizing this critical roundtable. It's a privilege to represent UNDP and join this conversation.

We meet here on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly at a time when peace cannot be taken for granted. At the same time, climate change is compounding risk, intensifying competition over resources, and driving conflict.

The reality is stark: 70% of the countries most vulnerable to climate change are also among the most fragile. 

At UNDP, we work alongside these countries. We see firsthand the barriers to addressing these vulnerabilities. 

Time and time again, one barrier stands out: access to climate finance. We heard this clearly at the second Africa Climate Summit earlier this month, which called for Africa-led solutions and fair finance. Without this, the world’s most vulnerable will remain trapped in a cycle of risk.

But we must not only see climate change as a source of instability: we must also recognize its potential as a catalyst for peace. 

UNDP has been a consistent partner in this effort.

From the COP27 Presidency’s Climate Responses for Sustaining Peace initiative, to the COP28 Presidency’s Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace, and now our partnership with the COP29 Presidency’s  Baku Hub and Network, we are working together to scale up climate finance and action.

The cornerstone of UNDP’s climate work is our Climate Promise. Through this, since 2017, UNDP has supported 50 fragile and conflict-affected countries to advance their Nationally Determined Contributions under the Paris Agreement.

While many now recognize climate-peace risks in their national plans, more needs to be done to integrate peace strategies into wider climate action efforts.

As the largest implementer of this integrated programming within the UN, UNDP has supported USD 71 million in integrated climate and peace programming in the past year alone. 

This integrated approach is not theoretical – it works. In the Lake Chad Basin, every US dollar has unlocked nearly USD 65 in additional resources, enabling over 500,000 internally displaced people to return and rebuild their lives.

Through the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM), UNDP – with DPPA, DPO and UNEP –  is driving joint action. We support 16 field initiatives; with 10 climate, peace and security advisors helping governments translate this agenda into reality.

When climate action and peacebuilding efforts are combined, we can chart a path toward a more secure and peaceful world. 

The continued efforts of the COP29 Presidency and our partners are vital in this journey. 

UNDP stands ready to accelerate peace-positive climate action with you all.

Thank you.