Brussels, 15 February 2024 – The UN Climate Technology Centre and Network (CTCN), hosted by UNEP, together with the European Union (EU), announced today the first countries benefitting from CTCN technical assistance under the joint EU-CTCN programme Climate Change and Security: Innovative Community-based Climate Technology for Communities at Risks of Conflicts Due to Climate Impact[1].

Since its official launch on 29 June 2023, the EU-CTCN programme Climate Change and Security - part of the EU Multi-Annual Indicative Programme for the Thematic Programme on Peace, Stability, and Conflict Prevention (2021-2027) – has raised awareness on the compounding effects of climate change on communities at risk of conflict, promoting the resilience of conflict-affected societies by encouraging and facilitating conflict-sensitive, community-based technological solutions to climate change.

Six months down the line, and after extensive consultation with conflict-affected and high-risk developing countries and communities, CTCN announced the first five countries and projects to be awarded technical assistance in addressing the security impact of climate change:

• Burkina Faso: Reinforcement of the implementation of actions to mitigate and adapt to climate change by developing solar energy systems for off-grid agro-industrial facilities through the establishment of a Community Solar Platform.
• The Central African Republic: Production of affordable solar cookers for the commune of Bangui which is at risk of deforestation.
• Chad: Rehabilitation of wells in the commune of Liwa using solar-powered pumps.
• Mali: Pilot project for the sustainable management of wood resources through the promotion of solar cookers and solar energy for the operation of electric cookers in a context of climate change.
• Haiti: Organic waste management project using inflatable tanks and targeting women and young people.

Among the system transformation areas, many countries are looking at the water-energy-food nexus, focusing on renewable energy systems and more specifically solar-power systems as the foundational step in system transformation for climate action.

“Against a backdrop of degrading ecosystems, an ever-increasing population and soaring demand for energy, a community-based approach to the supply of clean, reliable energy is a sustainable way of ensuring a brighter future for our communities in Burkina Faso. With the new community solar platform, improving access to energy will have a positive domino effect on food systems, food security and livelihoods, particularly for those communities most affected by climate change”, said Mr. Ouedraogo Pamoussa, Office of the General Director, Nature Conversation, Burkina Faso.

“Security in Haiti is challenged by a series of compounding factors impacting communities at the economic, social and environmental levels. Bio-gas can represent a new mitigating solution in sourcing energy, releasing the pressure on wood and fossil fuels and their impact on climate change, and paving the way to a sustainable energy system transformation“, said Mr. Yves Bernard Remarais, Directeur of Communications, Ministry of Environment, Haiti.

“The support of the European Union Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (EU FPI) on developing concrete solutions to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, comes at a critical juncture in time. The global community is realizing that climate change is a multidimensional issue with far-reaching implications. Food security, energy security, and water security affecting communities, can quickly escalate and become a local, national, or regional security issue with devastating impacts for people, development, and economies”, said Rajiv Garg, CTCN Director a.i.

Negotiations with other five developing countries are undergoing, more community-based solutions are being assessed, and will be announced shortly.

By integrating peacebuilding with climate resilience and adaptation, and by leveraging community-based endogenous know-whow with innovation technology, the programme is designing solutions for a more resilient and peaceful future for all.