The UN General Assembly held an informal thematic debate on climate change, "Climate Change as a Global Challenge" from 31 July to 2 August. Over half the UN membership (100 countries) took the floor to express their concerns about the impact of climate change, explain their national strategies for dealing with the problem, and to set out their ideas on the further practical and political action required. The UK spoke in a national capacity. Key experts on climate change took part in two panel discussions, one focusing on adaptation, the other on mitigation. A webcast of the panel events, as well as access to other material from the debate, is available.

 

There was broad recognition that the General Assembly has an important role to play in addressing climate change, given the implications that the impact of climate change has across a range of issues, including economic and social development, health, environment, energy and security. There was also deep concern about its impact on development, including the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. The Secretary-General, opening the debate, reiterated his promise to spare no effort to galvanise the political will and catalyse joint action to tackle climate change.

 

The event was carbon neutral and the Secretary-General announced a "Greening the UN" initiative to minimise the UN system's own carbon footprint.

 

The General Assembly debate follows on from the open debate in the Security Council on 17 April, chaired by the then UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Margaret Beckett, which explored the relationship between Energy, Security and Climate.  The UK tabled the debate to raise awareness of the significant future security risks that the international community will face if we continue to grow our economies in ways that accelerate climate change. The debate focussed on the security implications of a changing climate, including through its impact on potential drivers of conflict such as: access to energy, water, food, population movement, and border disputes. The UK's concept paper, produced for the debate, gives further detail.