In many parts of the world, climate change poses significant risks to social and ecological systems and, ultimately, to human security. Yet the linkages between climate change and human security are poorly understood and require further research

At the fourth Tokyo International Conference on African Development, UNU Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) convened an official side event to consider the connections between human security and environmental issues, in particular climate change. This seminar “Critical Intersection: Climate Change and Security”, chaired by Claudia ten Have of UNU-IAS, examined the impact of various aspects of climate change on human security, with a particular focus on the challenges facing sub-Saharan Africa.

In his opening remarks, UNU Rector Konrad Osterwalder said that although Africa is expected to face higher temperatures and lower rainfall (despite a predicted increase in tropical storms) in the coming decades, it is the continent least prepared to deal with extreme weather events and their consequences.

Discussing resource-related conflicts in sub-Saharan Africa, Obijiofor Aginam, of UNU Peace and Governance Programme, said that human security would benefit from the establishment of domestic institutions for transparency in extractive industries, increasing global efforts to address climate change and undertaking sustainable development precautionary approaches.

Brian Ngo of the OECD Africa Partnership Forum Support Unit discussed the causes of the incipient global food crisis, the likely impact of climate change on food security, and the reasons for Africa’s poor performance in achieving food security. He said the many problems include rising demand, insufficient agricultural investments, recurring bad weather and environmental degradation, increasing energy prices and the subsidized production of biofuels, and export restrictions that can cause “panic buying”.

He warned that most of Africa will see a minimum 15 per cent decline in agricultural output in the short term. Measures that could improve the situation in the short term include targeted safety nets and fertilizer subsidies.