Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, called for the compliance with international humanitarian law, including duties related to environmental protection, at the UN Security Council (UNSC)’s open debate held on September 17.

The ministerial-level debate on the humanitarian effects of environmental degradation on peace and security, one of the signature events of Niger’s presidency this month, focused on the Sahel region and the Lake Chad Basin, with participants encouraged to broaden the geographical scope of the discussion.

In his speech at the function, Quy stated it is necessary to comprehensively address humanitarian and security effects of climate change and environmental degradation.

The ambassador also called for increasing support for conflicted, post-conflict, and underdeveloped countries, and developing small island nations, highlighting a need to boost people’s resilience and adaptive capacity against climate change impacts.

He said the UNSC should be informed frequently on the effects of environmental degradation and climate change on international peace and security.

President of the International Committee of the Red Cross Peter Maurer said “from the Sahel and Lake Chad region to warzones around the globe, millions are suffering on the front lines of environmental degradation, climate change and conflict”.

He noted building and protecting resilient communities from violence is “critical”.

Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Ibrahim Thiaw reported that the causes of the link between the degradation and peace-security are vary, including increasing demand for natural resources and weak management.

He highlighted the importance of a comprehensive solution to adjusting socio-economic system, enhancing environment and conflict management capacity.

A number of participating nations, including Vietnam, underscored the inclusion of climate change and degradation impacts in solutions for peace, security and humanitarian.