Joint statement by the signatories of the Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security on West Africa and the Sahel, delivered by Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, Permanent Representative of Slovenia to the United Nations, on behalf of Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, and the United Kingdom

We, the Security Council members that have joined the Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security – Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, the United Kingdom, and my own country, Slovenia – have come together ahead of the Security Council meeting on UNOWAS.

West Africa and the Sahel continues to be severely affected by climate-related disasters, climate variablity, and  limited access to water. Recurrent flooding and drought compounded with existing security challenges disrupt lives and livelihoods and damage critical infrastructure. Homes, health facilities, and schools are destroyed or abandoned; populations are harmed, communities displaced.

These impacts of climate change can multiply risks that heighten inter-communal tensions, intensify competition over scarce natural resources, and create space for criminal and extremist networks to expand.

This is why the Pledgers today stand in front of you with three main messages.

First, we welcome UNOWAS’s progress on the Climate, Peace and Security agenda, in close collaboration with regional and international partners. We commend the dedicated work of the Climate, Peace and Security Advisor. We value recent engagements on farmer-pastoralist dynamics, transboundary protected areas, CPS assessments, and joint analysis on maritime and climate security. In line with its mandate, UNOWAS should continue supporting the region and its countries to address the root causes of insecurity, including through activities like the interministerial dialogue on climate, peace and security planned for 2026.

Second, we echo the Secretary-General’s call to recognize water as a strategic resource for the region as well as the peacebuilding potential of water diplomacy, and strengthen climate resilience as a strategy for regional stability. Integrated approaches that link climate adaptation, resilience-building and conflict prevention – with inclusive participation of diverse stakeholders, including full, equal and meaningful participation of women and girls – are essential. This is why they must also be supported by access to conflict-sensitive climate financing. We welcome targeted UN Peacebuilding Fund investments to address climate-related security risks that address root causes of conflict.

Finally, we welcome the recent informal field mission of the Informal Expert Group on Climate, Peace and Security of the Council members to Chad and its engagement with the Lake Chad Basin Commission and MNJTF. The mission underscored the urgency of addressing climate change as a driver of intercommunal violence, including farmer-herder conflicts, and highlighted the role of climate-driven resource scarcity in fueling tensions. Further, it demonstrated the power of regional cooperation, the potential of innovative solutions such as climate-resilient agriculture and climate-smart infrastructure, and the importance of community-led initiatives to build resilience and peace in the region.

Climate action not only enhances regional resilience but also contributes to international peace and security, and we underscore the important role UNOWAS plays in this regard.

I thank you.

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