The energy sector’s vulnerability to climate change impacts communities, critical infrastructure, and global security. To address these interconnected challenges, the Institute for Climate Protection, Energy and Mobility (IKEM) and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) co-hosted an official side event at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. The event focused on the complex relationships between climate policies, social equity, economic development, environmental conservation, and security.
The side event featured insights from speakers representing academia, international organizations, and policy-making institutions. Discussions highlighted pressing challenges at the intersection of climate and energy policies, emphasizing biodiversity, food and water nexuses, and the security implications of energy transitions, particularly in developing countries.
IKEM presented its latest research on the climate-energy-security nexus, underscoring how wars, like Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, exacerbate climate vulnerabilities by endangering critical infrastructure vital for achieving global climate targets. “More and more important international security organizations like NATO, the OSCE, and even the UN Security Council are taking climate issues into account,” stated IKEM’s director Prof. Dr Michael Rodi. “This is consequential, as climate policies are closely intertwined with security questions. It also provides an opportunity to raise broader awareness of the urgency of climate action.”
The event marked IKEM’s continued commitment to supporting international cooperation on climate issues, building on its support for the Ukrainian delegation and contributions to multiple side events at the Ukraine Pavilion at COP29.
