CLIMATE AND SECURITY

Russia vetoes Africa-led Security Council resolution tying climate change to terrorism

By Julian Pecquet

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Posted on December 10, 2021 14:48

Chadian soldiers march during Flintlock 2014 in Diffa
Chadian soldiers march during Flintlock 2014, a U.S.-led international training mission for African militaries, in Diffa, March 3, 2014. REUTERS/Joe Penney

Russia on Monday vetoed an African-led effort at the United Nations to link climate change with terrorism and other security challenges in the Sahel and beyond.

The UN Security Council voted 12-2 on the draft resolution on climate security spearheaded by Niger and Ireland, with India joining Russia in opposition and China abstaining. The measure would have required the security council to measure the impact of climate change when assessing peacekeeping operations and other actions.

The draft was supported by several African countries as well as Europe and the United States.

“We know very well that this resolution would have been a historic and important, not to mention necessary, move for the council at a critical point in time,” the missions of Niger and Ireland said in a joint statement after the vote. “This resolution is about looking at the Security Council’s role in our current world. Research and evidence on the ground show clearly that climate change is creating insecurity and instability.”

Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum addressed the

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