Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Climate Security Yemen topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Security Council speaker urges integrating climate into peace efforts for Yemen
Summary
A representative of Denmark told the United Nations Security Council that climate change is worsening Yemen’s humanitarian crisis and called for scaling up community-led, climate-smart food and water initiatives and UN-backed political settlement to enable adaptation and recovery.
The Representative of Denmark to the United Nations Security Council, speaking on behalf of Security Council members that joined a joint pledge on climate, peace and security, urged the international community to integrate climate considerations into peace efforts for Yemen and to support local adaptation measures.
The Danish representative said Yemen has “endured a decade of conflict leading to a devastating humanitarian situation including food, energy, and water insecurity all compounded by the effects of climate change,” and cited estimates that 18,000,000 Yemenis are food insecure and lack access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
In remarks ahead of a Security Council briefing, the speaker also noted that “in 2024 last year, heavy rains and severe flooding caused widespread devastation affecting 1,300,000 people,” and said prolonged drought and extreme weather have damaged arable land and intensified resource competition, which can aggravate local tensions and threaten social cohesion.
The speaker outlined three key messages: strengthen local systems and mechanisms to prevent and manage grievances over land, water and natural resources; scale up community-led, resilient and climate-smart food and water security initiatives; and integrate climate considerations into peacebuilding efforts while including women, youth and local Yemeni voices in those discussions. The representative said women-led civil society organizations “continue to serve as a vital lifeline in remote and frontline communities, providing essential basic services and advocating for just and lasting peace.”
The speaker warned that vulnerable groups — including women and girls, migrants, internally displaced persons, older persons, persons with disabilities and minorities — may face disproportionate impacts from the combined effects of conflict and climate change.
The Danish representative called for the international community to support Yemeni authorities in implementing adaptation and mitigation measures, including “robust early warning mechanisms, disaster risk reductions, and management.” The speaker added that “an urgent political settlement to the conflict in Yemen under the auspices of the United Nations is essential to enhance local authorities capacity to implement such measures.”
The remarks concluded with an appeal for a more systematic and strategic approach to the climate–peace–security nexus in discussions on Yemen at the Security Council and beyond.
