Advancing Peace Operations: The Inaugural Climate Change, Peace, and Security Training Comes to a Close

Advancing Peace Operations: The Inaugural Climate Change, Peace, and Security Training Comes to a Close

Last week, from the 24th to the 26 of April, Jable Castle welcomed 33 participants from 25 countries in what was the first training of its kind on the topic of the emerging concept of “climate security”. 20+ participants were previously part of the 12th International Africa Day Conference in a joint venture between the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs and POTC/Centre for European Perspective.

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According to the definition of the General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union »climate security« refers to the potential impacts of climate change on peace and security across the globe, particularly for the poorest and most vulnerable populations. It encompasses various risk management strategies such as mitigation, adaptation, resilience building, food and nutrition security, disaster risk reduction, conflict prevention and sustainable development. It also includes the integration of a security perspective within these processes and inclusive participation in order to alleviate the destabilising impacts of climate change on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs).

With this in mind, and the known future impact of climate change on peace operations themselves, POTC set out to develop one of the first trainings of this kind in Europe. This is in order to better prepare decision-makers, experts, and everyone else involved with peace operations for the impending difficulties that peace operations, governments, and international organisations will have to face in the coming decades.

The training was introductory and covered all the basics associated with climate change and peace operations with topics ranging from the 9 Planetary Boundaries, Climate Change, the Environment and Security, the International Legal Framework regarding Climate Change, Water Security as an Integral Part of Climate Security, Climate Mainstreaming in the EU CSDP Context, Energy Security, CC and Human Rights, Climate Justice and Collective vs Individual Action on Climate Change. This was made possible with the help of 9 Slovenian and foreign expert contributors who made sure that the participants received all the relevant knowledge that will help them make the right decisions when it comes to climate security. The training is intended to be developed even further and organised once again in 2024.

The POTC Team would like to thank everyone that attended the training, the expert contributors and the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs with special thanks to State Secretary Samuel Žbogar for presenting the participants with Course Certificates.

Below you can view some of the training highlights:

Flickr Album (Photo: Marko Arandjelović)

 

         

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Call for applications: Climate Change, Peace and Security; April 24-26, Jable Castle, Slovenia

Call for applications: Climate Change, Peace and Security; April 24-26, Jable Castle, Slovenia

Peace Operations Training Centre (POTC) is organising its newest pilot training course titled »Climate Change, Peace and Security«, which will take place back-to-back with the 12th Africa Day International Conference between 24-26 of April in Slovenia.

Climate change is a security issue and a global threat multiplier. While climate change does not directly cause violent conflict, its impacts can exacerbate its drivers. Climate change can undermine livelihoods, increase mass migration, and weaken the governance and stability of states, particularly conflict-affected fragile states and territories. The European Union (EU), NATO and the UN have actively been calling for peace operations to assess climate risks and establish management strategies that incorporate these risks. With this in mind, POTC developed a comprehensive training programme that covers different aspects of the environmental peacebuilding, climate and security nexus at an introductory level. After its successful completion, the participants will be able to understand and analyse climate-related security risks and be better prepared to contribute to crisis prevention and sustaining peace.

The enrollment procedure is now open, so we encourage everyone interested to apply here by the 24th of March, 2023.

Due to the visa obtainment process, participants from African countries should apply by February 26th, 2023.

Additional information:

  • The training is free of charge.
  • Organisers do not cover travel and accommodation costs. However, we will provide support and recommendations.
  • The working language is English.
  • The organisers will cover coffee/tea breaks and lunch.
  • Participants will be notified about the selection no later than March 31st, 2023.
  • Location of the training: Jable Castle, Grajska Cesta 1, Mengeš, Slovenia.

The draft agenda of the training course can be viewed here.

Contact [email protected] for any additional questions you might have.

For more information about the 12th Africa Day International Conference, please view the following link: 12th Africa Days International Conference

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