Climate Change: A Threat to International Peace and Security

Yesterday, July 20th, the UN Security Council Debate resulted in the issue of a Presidential Statement that climate change is a real threat to international peace and security. 

Some excerpts from Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moonent's speech:

"Climate change is a real threat to international peace and security."

"Extreme weather events continue to grow more frequent and intense in rich and poor countries alike, no only devastating lives, but also infrastructure, institutions and budgets - an unholy brew which can create dangerous security vacuums."

"Now we need accelerated operationalization of all the agreements made at Cancún, including on protecting forests, adaptation and technology."

"We cannot ignore history. But we must clearly recognise that there can be no spectators when it comes to securing the future of our planet."

"There can be little doubt today that climate change has potentially far-reaching implications for global stability and security in economic, social and environmental terms which will increasingly transcend the capacity of individual nation States to manage,."

Read press from the UN News Centre, and articles from the BBC and tcktcktck.