The United Nations Security Council and the Climate Security Challenge: Between Mandated Response and Implementation Obstacles

Abstract

This academic paper aims to shed light on the role of the United Nations Security Council, considered the most important body within the United Nations, which has been entrusted with the task of maintaining international peace and security, in addressing the challenge of climate security. The Council's activity has seen significant development since (2007) to the present, particularly through the integration of the negative impacts of climate change and their effect on maintaining international peace and security into its agenda, and the issuance of several resolutions concerning specific countries and regions that link climate change to stability in those areas. Despite opposition from some countries, especially permanent members of the Council such as Russia and China, the Council has succeeded—albeit slowly at first—in actively developing the integration of climate security into its agenda, despite the political and legal obstacles it faces.