Advancing Climate, Peace, Security, and Geopolitical Cooperation in the Asia-Pacific Region

Advancing Climate, Peace, Security, and Geopolitical Cooperation
in the Asia-Pacific Region

The Asia–Pacific region faces a unique convergence of challenges at the nexus of climate change, peace, and security. Compounding and cascading climate impacts from sea-level rise and extreme weather events are exacerbating existing vulnerabilities, including through rising food and water insecurity, which is in turn contributing to displacement, social tensions, and conflict risks. At the same time, the region’s geopolitical dynamics, including intensifying competition over strategic influence and resources, further complicate efforts to address these challenges.

Many countries in the Asia–Pacific are on the frontlines of these intersecting risks, whether in Oceania (Australia), the Pacific, Southeast Asia (Indonesia), or Northeast Asia (Republic of Korea (RoK), and Japan). Despite this, conversations on climate, peace, and security have not advanced equally in the Asia–Pacific, and moreover are not as advanced as those taking place globally in other regions. Lessons learned from those discussions abroad can be brought to the Asia–Pacific, much as the Asia-Pacific’s approach to climate and security can and should inform global discourse. Multilateral cooperation, innovative programming, and inclusive dialogue are essential to address the climate-security nexus while navigating the geopolitical realities of the Indo-Pacific.

This workshop brings together experts from government ministries (foreign affairs, development, defence), academia, think tanks, and regional organisations to deepen understanding of the climate-security nexus and design actionable strategies to address these risks collaboratively.

Image: kbrembo/unsplash.com