Niger (SC President) and Ireland brief following the SC meeting on Climate & Security - SC Stakeout HD

Immediately following the SC Meeting on Climate and security: The President of the Security Council and Permanent Representative of Niger, Ambassador Abdou Abarry and Permanent Representative of Ireland, Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason briefed reporters at the Security Council Stakeout. After the UN Security Council failed to adopt a draft resolution on climate and security due to a Russian veto, Irish Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason said the Council missed an opportunity to “recognise for the first time the reality of the world we are living in.” The draft resolution, which was penned by Ireland and Niger and supported by 113 other member states, received 12 votes in favour, with Russia and India voting against it and China abstaining from the vote. Addressing reporters following the meeting on behalf of his country and Ireland, the ambassador of Niger, Abdou Abarry, said the resolution would have been a historic and necessary move for the Council at a critical time. He said the draft resolution was about looking at the Security Council’s role in the current world and stressed that the penholders were not looking for a veto. Abarry said, "Research and evidence on the ground show clearly that climate change is increasing insecurity and instability. The Council will never live up to its mandate for international peace and security if it does not adapt. It must reflect the moment we are now living in, the threats to international peace and security which we now face." The ambassador of Niger said it remains vital that the Council incorporates climate related security risks into its work and to seek understand the impact of climate change on its agenda.