The Peace and Security Council,

Recalling the theme of the year 2026, as adopted by the 38^th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of States and Government held from 14 to 15 February 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, namely: “Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063”, and Decision [Assembly/AU/Dec. 815 (XXXV)] adopted by the 35th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government held from 5 to 6 February 2022, in which the Assembly acknowledged the “inextricable link between climate, peace and security” and requested the AU Commission to expedite the finalization of a climate-related security risk assessment study, in consultation with AU Member States, as well as to expeditiously develop a Common African Position (CAP) on the nexus between Climate, Peace and Security (CPS); and also adopted the AU Climate Change and Resilient Development Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2032), which underlines the role of climate change as a potential threat multiplier in the domain of peace and security;

Also recalling the Addis Ababa Declaration on Climate Change, adopted by the Second Africa Climate Summit (ACS2) convened by the AU Commission in collaboration with the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, from 8 to 10 September 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which, among others, also recognizes climate change as a threat multiplier to peace and security and underscores the importance of finalizing and operationalizing the Common African Position on Climate Change, Peace and Security (CAP-CPS) as a decisive Continental framework;

Further recalling all its previous decisions and pronouncements on climate, peace and security, in particular, Communiqués [PSC/PR/COMM.1301 (2025)] adopted at its 1301^st meeting held on 17 September 2025; [PSC/PR/COMM.1263 (2025)] adopted at its 1263rd meeting held on 6 March 2025; and [PSC/PR/COMM.1240 (2024)] adopted at its 1240th meeting held on 30 October 2024;  [PSC/PR/COMM.1184 (2023)] adopted at its 1184^th meeting held on 7 November 2023, [PSC/MIN/COMM.1114 (2022)] adopted at its 1114^th meeting held on 11 November 2022, [PSC/PR/COMM.1079 (2022)] adopted at its 1079^th meeting held on 21 April 2022, [PSC/PR/COMM.1051 (2021)] adopted at 1051^st meeting held on 26 November 2021, [PSC/AHG/COMM.1 (CMLXXXIV)] adopted at its 984^th meeting held on 9 March 2021;

Acknowledging that climate change constitutes one of the threat multipliers to peace and security in Africa, while reiterating that the Climate, Peace and Security nexus remains a priority on the agenda of the Council;

Taking note of the opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Dr. Obaida Eldandarawy, Permanent Representative of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the AU and Chairperson of the PSC for the month of February 2026; the Introductory Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security; and also the statement by H.E. Mr. Moses Vilakati, AU Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) read on his behalf; the statement by H.E. Mr. Parfait Onanga Anyanga, Special Representative of the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to the AU; as well as the statements by AU Member States; 

Acting under Article 7 of its Protocol, the Peace and Security Council:

1. Welcomes the progress made towards the finalization of the CAP-CPS and reiterates the request for the AU Commission working in consultations with Member States and the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs), the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), and the United Nations, to expedite the finalization of the Draft CAP-CPS,; underscores the importance of a unified and coherent African common position on climate, peace and security and calls for the finalization of the CAP-CPS by national experts of all Member States prior to its validation by the Council, before its finalization preferably during the second half of 2026;

2. Emphasizes the need, in the development of the Common African position, to ensure alignment with national and regional realities supported by a clear conceptual framing that centres on addressing the climate related security risks and challenges through existing mechanisms by further strengthening adaptation frameworks, advancing early warning and anticipatory action systems, promoting resilience and accelerating implementation of national adaptation plans, as well as to ensure that the process remains consultative and iterative fostering broad consensus and ownership among Member States;

3. Notes with concern the far-reaching impact and implications of climate change on communities, influencing peace and security dynamics across Africa, acting as a threat multiplier and exacerbating vulnerabilities, intensifying competition over land and water resources, and contributing to insecurity, accelerated displacement, and humanitarian crises, which heighten the risks of violent conflicts and instability;

4. Notes with deep concern the adverse effects of climate change, including, inter alia, the impact on the health and livelihoods of individuals through events such as sea level rise, drought, desertification, and natural disasters;

5. Underlines that African countries, despite their low contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, lack the capacity and appropriate technology to implement adaptation and mitigation measures while increasingly challenged by rising debt, narrowing fiscal space, trade protectionism, weaker implementation of climate commitments; underscores the need to develop inclusive, effective and equitable climate adaptation and climate resilience strategies that mainstream women and youth for sustainable development in Africa;

6. Highlights the need to integrate climate multi-hazard analysis into preventive diplomacy frameworks, as well as conflict sensitivity in the Continental Early Warning System;

7. Encourages enhanced collaboration and coordination between Member States, RECs/RMs and the AU Commission, including through the establishment of platforms for sharing experiences and lessons as well as best practices on climate adaptation, climate resilience and climate disaster risk reduction; and requests the AUC, working through its relevant departments, to expedite the operationalization of the African Humanitarian Agency and the Continental Civil Capacity Mechanism for preparations towards and response to disasters, in particular climate disasters;

8. Calls for the finalization of the study on the assessment of climate-related security risks and the implementation of the PSC Matrix of threats to peace and security on the continent, adopted in August 2025;

9. Emphasises the need to frame climate adaptation as a strategic imperative for sustainable development in Africa; and stresses the importance of aligning climate adaptation finance with conflict prevention and resilience-building efforts, so that climate investments generate more tangible peace, security and stability dividends in the Continent;

10. Emphasizes the importance of strengthening Africa’s resilience, through practical adaptation and mitigation measures, including climate-smart agriculture, the development of irrigation schemes, renewable energy, and improved water resources management and sustainable agriculture and encourages Member States to further enhance collaboration and cooperation in managing trans-boundary natural resources;

11. Underscores the need to fully implement the commitment to triple adaptation finance by 2035, supported by readiness assistance and capacity?building to help ensure that dedicated climate-adaptation resources reach the climate-change vulnerable communities and countries that need them most, including the coastal and island countries, and the countries in the Sahel region and Lake Chad Basin region while also improving access through measures aimed at improving direct access options and simplified procedures in addition to alignment with national priorities;

12. Appeals to international partners to scale up the mobilization of adequate, sustainable and predictable financing for climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience; reaffirms the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, equity, as well as the need to reflect different national circumstances and calls for enhanced and predictable support to African countries through climate finance and technology transfer and capacity building in the area of early warning, conflict-sensitive climate adaptation and natural resources governance; and in this context, underscores the need to further strengthen African climate financing mechanisms; and to adequately capitalize  the Loss and Damage fund including through implementation of existing commitments, calls on the International Community to discharge its responsibilities by adapting its response to climate change to the specificities of the African continent;

13. Welcomes the COP30 reaffirmation that climate measures, including unilateral ones, should not constitute arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on trade, acknowledges the establishment of the mandated dialogue on opportunities, challenges and barriers to enhancing international cooperation related to the role of trade, as reiterated by the Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC), held on the margins of the 39^th Ordinary Session held on 16 February 2026;

14. Takes note of the work of the United Nations Climate Security Mechanism in Africa in support of AU Member States and RECs/RMs, including through provision of technical assistance, capacity-building and early warning support to more effectively prevent and address climate, peace and security risks;

15. Encourages Member States to take all necessary measures to enhance implementation of Nationally Determined Contribution, National Adaptation Plans and other national climate initiatives including through strengthening climate governance to ensure the effectiveness of their climate actions;

16. Looks forward to the COP31 to be organized in Antalya, Turkey, and also to COP32 to be organized in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; and

17. Decides to remain actively seized of the matter.

COMMENTS