Security and Climate Summit Takes Place in Mogadishu

The bustling city of Mogadishu recently hosted a groundbreaking conference focused on the dual challenges of security and climate change impacting Somalia. “Today’s gathering holds immense significance, as it unites individuals from the climate sector with security professionals, and vice versa,” remarked Christophe Hodder, the UN advisor on climate, security, and the environment, during a conversation with Anadolu. His words underscored the urgency for collaborative strategies to face the impending threats of climate-induced instability.

Somalia has battled daunting climate adversities, including an unprecedented drought in 2023, swiftly succeeded by extensive flooding—an event acknowledged as the most severe in living memory. A recent Climate Risk Profile by the firm Weathering Risk forecasts that by 2030, temperatures in Somalia could soar between 1.4 to 1.9 °C above pre-industrial levels.

While grappling with these environmental upheavals, Somalia also confronts persistent threats to safety and security. The infamous al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabaab continues its relentless campaign against the Somali government, creating a landscape riddled with instability since 2007. The intertwining of climate issues and security challenges places Somalia at a critical juncture, demanding innovation and resilience.