The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as COP28, was held from 30 November until 12 December 2023, at the Expo City in Dubai. The conference brings together governments, private actors, civil society representatives and knowledge institutions to advance international cooperation and develop national commitments to limit global temperature rise and adapt to the impacts associated with climate change.
“While governments and the private sector have fallen short of achieving climate goals, getting together at COP28 UAE and engaging in dialogue and negotiation adds value in an increasingly polarised world.”
– HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau
HCSS was honoured to have hosted and co-hosted several events during the COP28. HCSS participation at the COP28 aims to highlight research methods, good practice, and findings that could support decision makers when discussing climate-related security challenges and determining the course of action for the next years. HCSS participation in COP revolved around three key messages. First, to mitigate climate insecurity, focus should be placed on both (a) accelerating the energy transition in spite of increasing global tensions; and (b) enhancing adaptation efforts to prevent and mitigate climate security risks. Second, risk can be turned into resilience and opportunity for cooperation by employing comprehensive and conflict sensitive approaches to climate action. Third, youth representatives are essential when developing informed, integrated, and inclusive solutions for climate-related challenges.
Side Event | Panel Discussion “Political and Strategic Issues Challenging International Climate Action”
Starting on December 4, HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau moderated the panel discussion “Political and Strategic Issues Challenging International Climate Action”, as part of the first session of the TRENDS-Atlantic Council 3rd Annual Conference on Sustainable Security: The Soft and Hard Implications of Climate Action.
The session brought together insights from a diverse group of panelists to discuss the political and strategic issues challenging climate action.
Read more about this event here:
Side Event | Water-Energy-Food Security Serious Game
Together with the Arab Youth Green Voices and the Netherlands Embassy in Jordan, HCSS deputy director Michel Rademaker and HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau hosted an in-person moderated Serious Game at COP28 on December 8, focused on the case study of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. The game stimulates a situation whereby participants act as decision makers tasked with the challenge of mitigating the impact of water, energy, and food-related risks, as well as increasing the adaptive capacity of vulnerable communities. In doing so the serious gaming exercise fulfilled two purposes: (1) creating awareness and understanding of the complexities behind the Water-Energy-Food nexus in climate-vulnerable areas; and (2) stimulating the development of innovative ideas that could support Water-Energy-Food management strategies in the Sinai.
Read more about this event here:
Side Event | Panel Discussion “The climate-extremism nexus in Iraq: challenges and opportunities for peacebuilding”
HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau moderated a panel discussion “The Climate-Extremism Nexus in Iraq: Challenges and Opportunities for Peacebuilding” on December 9. The event was organised by HCSS in collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Water Resources, & the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Association (KNMI). During the session, Irina aimed to broaden and sharpen the understanding of challenges arising from the link between climate change and violent extremism in Iraq, as well as discuss methods and approaches to mitigate these challenges.
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Side Event | High level panel discussion “Water for peace and security: From risk to resilience”
On December 10, HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau participated in a high-level panel discussion on “Water for Peace and Security: From Risk to Resilience”. Together with the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership, The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the event highlighted the global issue of water scarcity as a fundamental threat to human health, peace, and security. The participants of the panel aimed to raise the issue at the highest political levels and showcase innovative solutions and strategies addressing water scarcity and local, national, and transboundary water management. Moreover, this event sought to initiate a meaningful dialogue with nations that currently lack water cooperation agreements, ushering in the inception of the Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition.
Read more about this event here:
Rewatch the full event here:
Side Event | Panel discussion “Winning with Water – Tools that support conflict sensitive adaptation”
Additionally, HCSS participated in a panel discussion on “Winning with Water – Tools that support Conflict Sensitive Adaptation” on December 10. HCSS deputy director Michel Rademaker moderated the event, while HCSS strategic analyst Irina Patrahau was one of the speakers. It was co-organised by HCSS, Deltares and Wetlands International under the umbrella of the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership. The event highlighted best practices and lessons learnt from using innovative methods and tools to support timely, informed, and inclusive adaptation action in regions prone to water-related conflict by using examples from WPS engagement in Mali, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Iraq.
Read more about this event here: