Approach
Through advocacy, partnerships and convening, the Climate Security Mechanism (CSM) works with partners to increase collaboration between global, regional and national decision-makers and stakeholders to harmonize climate action, peace and security policies, and scale up and improve access to climate finance in fragile and conflict-affected contexts.
Sustained advocacy remains vital to keep the linkages between climate change, peace and security high on the agenda of relevant policy fora and ensure their integration into decision-making at all levels. The CSM supports efforts in this regard by organizing and participating in workshops, seminars and conferences, and preparing speeches, background notes, and analytical papers for senior UN officials. Understanding the developments in the broader policy discourse, including the voices from frontlines, helps CSM to bridge beyond its own institutions. The CSM intends to act as an advocate, facilitator and convener, enabling contact, exchange and new partnerships between relevant actors from the climate and peace and security spheres in order to climate-inform conflict prevention and sustaining peace policies, strategies and operations and make climate action work for sustaining peace. This function makes use of the evidence base consolidated through knowledge co-generation and management, including disseminating the knowledge products as well as turning knowledge into joint policy guidance.
An example of the CSM's work on advocacy, partnerships and convening
CSM Partnership Dialogue: Mobilizing Partnerships to Bridge Climate Action, Peace and Security
The CSM convened its first Partnership Dialogue on 28 April 2023 in New York and online. It showcased how the CSM is working with partners to maximize its catalytic impact and deliver results in frontline countries and regions. Partners as well as advisors and experts deployed with CSM support highlighted progress and perspectives with examples from the Arab States, the Horn of Africa, the Philippines, and Northern Central America. The CSM team presented priorities for the CSM’s new phase (2023-2025), which focuses on support to analysis and action, knowledge co-generation, data and evidence, and diversification of partnerships. An opportunity for a wide range of current and prospective partners to deepen their understanding of the CSM’s work and vision, the Dialogue was attended by 90+ participants, including 35+ Member States among which donor partners, members of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security (GoF), and Climate for Peace (C4P) members. Ahead of the Dialogue, the CSM released its first Brochure providing an overview of the CSM and its new phase.
The CSM enhanced this format in 2024 by convening the CSM Nairobi Partnership Dialogue at UNEP headquarters and online on 6 June 2024, with support from Co-chairs of the Group of Friends on Climate and Security and of the CSM Joint Steering Committee. Convening the Dialogue in Nairobi aimed at expanding the advocacy, partnerships and convening efforts of the CSM and consultations with partners beyond New York. The location allowed the CSM to build on the UNEP headquarters presence and the first CSM Nairobi Exchange (4-6 June) for climate, peace and security (CPS) advisors and experts. The Dialogue offered a regional perspective on CPS in the Horn of Africa, with remarks from Kenya, the African Union Commission and IGAD/ICPAC, as well as insights from CSM-supported CPS advisors in UNMISS, UNAMI and the Liptako Gourma Authority on operationalizing CPS. A platform to share CSM experiences while bringing forward examples and insightful perspectives from a variety of States including during the open discussion, the CSM Nairobi Partnership Dialogue was attended by 100+ participants, representing 25+ States (including CSM, GoF and C4P partners) as well as regional organization, international financial institution, knowledge, civil society and UN partners.
On 30 April 2026, the CSM convened the Partnership Dialogue 2026 - Where climate change meets peace and security - in New York and online, in partnership with the CSM Joint Steering Committee and the Group of Friends on Climate and Security. The dialogue brought together Member States, United Nations entities, and partners to strengthen cooperation, share lessons from climate-related peace and security initiatives, and promote practical, locally led solutions. The dialogue showcased lessons and progress from CSM-supported initiatives across UN missions and regional partnerships, while connecting policy discussions with local realities and operational practice. It served as a platform to share expertise, strengthen coordination across the UN system and external partners, and expand engagement with countries most affected by climate-related peace and security risks. The clear message from the dialogue was that climate risks are reshaping peace and security dynamics worldwide, while also creating practical opportunities on the ground to advance inclusion, resilience and sustaining peace. An outcome of the dialogue was the adoption of the New York Call for Action on Climate, Peace and Security by the Joint-Steering Committee of CSM. The Call urges governments, the United Nations, financial institutions, and local partners to strengthen coordinated, inclusive, and adequately financed action to address the growing links between climate change, fragility, and conflict, while protecting vulnerable communities and advancing sustainable peace.In consultation with partners, the CSM Partnership Dialogue will be further enhanced and brought to other geographical contexts, as a platform to share CSM experiences while bringing forward concrete examples and insightful perspectives from a variety of States.