Climate change and security in Africa

International Conference

CERI/CNRS, Sciences Po Paris

January 20th 2009

This conference was co-organized by EGMONT (Royal institute for international relations), ACTED, CERI (Centre d'études et de recherches internationales) and CEAN (Centre d'études d'Afrique Noire, Sciences Po Bordeaux), as part of the "Observatoire de l’Afrique".

The conference took place on January 20th, 2009, in Paris, and was entitled: « Climate Change and Security in Africa ».

This conference aimed to analyze issues at stake concerning climate change in Africa, and discuss available political options, taking into consideration that the African Union and the European Union have recognized the importance of climate change.

The conference raised several key issues: Is there a link between climate change and security challenges, and if so, to what extent? Without reducing the debate to a security-based approach, how can we tackle this issue as much as required? The causes of conflict are multiple and complex. It is certainly the case with climate change and international security, since climate changes can exacerbate existing problems, to which solutions need to be provided; solutions that should comprise of as many dimensions as the problems themselves. What are underlying problems that present risks all the more great that they combine with climate changes?

This event targeted a large scope of political decision-makers, field practitioners, and researchers at the EU, from Members States as well as from African countries and institutions.

Conference program

Download the conference program

Full transcript

Download the conference transcript

Audio files and powerpoint files

Introduction

1. Koen Vlassenroot (Egmont, Director of the Central Africa Programme)

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2. Pascal Bernard (ACTED, Operations Director)

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3 David Knaute (ACTED, Project coordinator)

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4. Elizabeth Paula Napeyok (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uganda to France)

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Panel 1: ‘Governing Climate change and human security in Africa’

5. Introduction by facilitator: Roland Marchal (Senior researcher at CNRS/CERI)

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6. Fabrice Renaud (UNU/Institute for Environment and Human Security)

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7. Bertrand Charrier (Director of the Chirac Foundation)

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8. Daniel Compagnon (Science Po Bordeaux)

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9. Dennis Tänzler (Senior project manager at Adelphi Research)

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10. François Jullien (AFD)

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11. Discussion on panel 1

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12. Conclusion panel 1

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Panel 2 : ‘Structural causes and mitigating factors of climate change : the case of food security’

13. Introduction by facilitator: Vincent Foucher (Senior researcher at CEAN-IEP Bordeaux)

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14. Gaëtan Vanloqueren (Advisor to the Special Rapporteur on the right to food – Olivier De Schutter)

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15. Gilles Hirzel (Alliés, member of the International Alliance against Hunger)

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16. Victor Onenchan (ACTED): The effects of precipitation and reduced vegetation cover on food security and conflict dynamics in Karamoja pastoral area, Uganda

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17. Discussion on panel 2

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Panel 3: ‘The multifaceted impact of climate change: the case of pastoralism

18. Introduction by facilitator: Sacha Kagan (Leuphana University Lüneburg)

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19. Nene Mburu (independent): Ilemi triangle: the complexity of disarming ‘fragmentary’ societies

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Map
20. Neil Clarke (Minority Rights Group International)

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21. Ben Knighton (Oxford Centre for Mission Studies): Security and the Incidence of Rainfall in Karamoja: The problems with ‘peace’

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22. Romain Benicchio (OXFAM): Presentation of OXFAM report ‘Survival of the Fittest, Pastoralism and climate change in East Africa’

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23. Jérôme Tubiana (independent): Climate change and war in Darfur and Chad

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24. Discussion on panel 3

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Panel 4: ‘Climate change and security in Africa: What are the consequences for the relations EU-Africa?’

25. Introduction by facilitator: Koen Vlassenroot (Director of the Central Africa Programme of EGMONT)

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26. Ali Wario (Chair of the Specialist Task Force for the AU Pastoralist Policy Framework for Africa): Climate change: impact on pastoralists, security, food, livelihood and conflict in the Horn of Africa

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27. Bwango Apuuli (Deputy Director of IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre)

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28. Torsten Ahren (Political Advisor to the EU Special Representative for Sudan BRYLLE)

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29. Richard Crowder (Policy Unit, General Secretariat of the Council of the EU)

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30. Discussion on Panel 4 and concluding remarks

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