The Security Council is meeting today to discuss the situation in South Sudan. We, the Security Council members that are signatories of the Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security – Colombia, Denmark, France, Greece, Liberia, Panama, the United Kingdom and my own country, Latvia – have come together to highlight the importance of promoting climate resilience through anticipatory action, peacebuilding and peacekeeping efforts.
Persistent and overlapping climate shocks are increasingly shaping the lived realities of people in South Sudan. As the latest Secretary-General’s report highlights, over 80 per cent of the country has been affected by drought, flooding and erratic rainfall. This has disrupted livelihoods, displaced communities and increased humanitarian needs. It has exacerbated competition over scarce water and grazing resources triggering conflicts between farmers and herders. Drought conditions and conflict have led to a severe food security crisis. As South Sudan prepares for elections scheduled in December, extreme weather events further threaten an already fragile political and security environment.
The intensifying El Niño adds to the climate variability, compounding the flood-drought paradox and the humanitarian situation where two-thirds of the population require some form of assistance. These circumstances call for renewed efforts to prevent and respond to the consequences of ongoing extreme climate events on the security and humanitarian context in South Sudan.
In this context, we highlight three key messages:
First, preparedness and anticipatory action in response to climate risks are essential to avoid deepening humanitarian needs and limiting possible peace and security implications. In this regard, the 2026 Floods and Drought Preparedness and Response Plan developed by the Government and humanitarian partners is an important tool for joint planning and proactive response. We encourage allocating and mobilizing adequate resources for implementation, as well as to ensure safe, timely and unhindered humanitarian access.
Second, engaging local communities and empowering civil society organizations in preparedness and response planning is crucial to mitigate disruptive climate change impacts. We commend UNMISS for supporting mediation and dialogue within communities to find shared solutions and promote peaceful coexistence. Such initiatives by the mission are vital peacebuilding tools. Promoting full, equal, meaningful and safe participation of women in these and other climate adaptation efforts remains imperative.
Third, climate change related hazards are increasingly affecting the operational environment of UNMISS, making the dedicated CPS capacity in the mission all the more critical. Floods highly constrain the mission’s ability to conduct patrols and deliver services to communities in need. We commend UNMISS for its work in these challenging circumstances. Its critical engineering work has safeguarded displacement sites and facilitates humanitarian assistance. We encourage continued efforts to integrate climate, peace and security considerations across peacekeeping activities.
To conclude, we remain committed to promoting climate resilience as key to overcoming the mounting climate pressures and fostering peace in South Sudan.