Energy, Climate and Natural Resources

  • Tomorrow (16 October) the Security Council will hold a briefing at the initiative of Bolivia, this month’s Council president, on the role of natural resources as a root cause of conflict. Secretary-General António Guterres is scheduled to brief, and Council...

  • 10 July 2018

    Climate-related Security Risks Debate

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow (11 July), the Security Council will hold a debate on climate-related security risks. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Margot Wallström, will chair the debate. Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed; Hindou Ibrahim of the International Indigenous People’s Forum on...

  • July 2018

    Climate and Security

    Monthly Forecast

    In July, the Council will hold a debate on climate-related security risks. Expected briefers include a senior Secretariat official, a representative of a member state facing climate-related security challenges, and a civil society representative.

  • Tomorrow (20 December), the Security Council will hold an open debate on the theme “addressing complex contemporary challenges to international peace and security” at the initiative of Council president Japan. Secretary-General António Guterres will brief. The debate is expected to...

  • 14 December 2017

    Climate Change: Arria-formula Meeting

    What's in Blue

    On Friday (15 December), the Security Council will hold an Arria-formula meeting on the theme: “Preparing for security implications of rising temperatures”. The meeting has been co-organised by a wide array of member states, including Council members France, Italy, Japan,...

  • The year 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of the Security Council’s earliest consideration of climate change. During the past decade, it has been a matter of some controversy whether or not the Council is an appropriate body to address this issue. Numerous Council members have underscored the security implications of climate change, but China, Russia and other countries have expressed concern that the Council’s engagement on this matter encroaches on the prerogatives of other UN organs, notably the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council. Despite the political tensions associated with addressing climate change, the Council has over time managed to engage with this issue in two open debates, in formal meetings covering a wide range of emerging threats to peace and security, and in informal Arria-formula meetings.

  • Tomorrow (6 June), the Security Council will hold a high-level briefing on “Preventive Diplomacy and Transboundary Waters.” Bolivian President Evo Morales will chair the meeting and Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief. At press time, it appeared that at...

  • June 2017

    Conflict Prevention

    Monthly Forecast

    In June, the Council will hold a high-level briefing on “Transboundary Waters and Preventive Diplomacy”. Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to brief. Bolivian President Evo Morales will preside. No Council product is anticipated.

  • 21 November 2016

    Open Debate on Water, Peace and Security

    What's in Blue

    Tomorrow morning (22 November), the Security Council will hold an open debate on water, peace and security with briefings by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon; Danilo Turk, Chair of the Global High-Level Panel on Water and Peace; Vice-President of the International Committee...

  • Tomorrow (23 June), the Security Council is set to renew the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) sanctions regime until 1 July 2017 and the mandate of the Group of Experts assisting the DRC Sanctions Committee until 1 August 2017....

  • Tomorrow (26 May), the Security Council will have a briefing on challenges in the Sahel, focusing on the impact of climate change and desertification to peace and security in this region. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the head of the UN Office...

  • Tomorrow afternoon (22 April), Senegalese President Macky Sall will chair an Arria-formula meeting on water, peace and security. Members are expected to discuss the interlinkages between water, peace and security; best practices in water cooperation; and cooperation between UN and...

  • On Monday morning (30 November), Angola and Lithuania will co-host an Arria-formula meeting on the impact of the illicit transfer of small arms and light weapons and poaching in Africa. The meeting will be open to all UN member states...

  • 20 November 2015

    UN Sanctions: Natural Resources

    Research Report

    This report provides a historical and institutional context for understanding UN natural resource sanctions.

  • Tomorrow morning (30 July), the Council is scheduled to hold an open debate on the peace and security challenges facing small island developing states. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi of Samoa, Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller of...