Kenya places climate disorder at centre of UN security council bid

(Climate Change News, 8 Jan 2020) Facing internal pressure and transboundary tensions over water, Kenya says it will progress climate security issues if it wins Africa’s seat.

Kenya has made climate change a core part of its bid to obtain a seat on the UN security council, making an effort to “seek lasting solutions to security challenges caused by erratic climatic conditions” one of its 10 campaign pledges. 

The country is hoping to become a non-permanent member in 2021 to 2022. Kenya’s ministry of foreign affairs said it was well placed in helping the world deal with climate change-induced threats thanks to its experience of dealing with the impacts of extreme and variable weather.

Kenya is battling for Africa’s UN security council seat with Djibouti, which also has experience of dealing with food and water shortages as a consequence of changing weather conditions partially due to climate change.

The African Union recently endorsed Kenya’s candidacy by a considerable 37-13 margin over Djibouti. But Djibouti declined to bow out of the race. The election for non-permanent members of the UN security council will take place in June 2020, with successful candidates taking their seats in January 2021.

Kenya’s foreign affairs cabinet secretary Monica Juma recently said climate change was negatively impacting global peace and security, with urgent action required to address the intertwined threats.

“Our pursuit for solutions on global challenges convinces us that we are well placed to contribute constructively in the UN Security Council,” Juma said at a conference on environmental governance and diplomacy in Nairobi in October.

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Climate Change News, 8 Jan 2020: Kenya places climate disorder at centre of UN security council bid