On October 6, 2026, Mauritanian Prime Minister Muktar Ould Aja opened the High-Level Forum on Climate, Peace, and Security in Nouakchott, under the theme "Together for Resilience and Peace." The forum, organized in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme, aims to address the interconnected challenges of climate change, peace, and security in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions. In his opening speech, Ould Aja emphasized the importance of addressing these challenges, highlighting the devastating impacts of climate change on economic and social stability.
The forum builds on the Bamako forum held in November 2023, expanding the scope of consultations to include Gulf of Guinea countries. This expansion reflects the need for a regional approach to address similar challenges and promote solidarity among nations. Mauritanian Prime Minister Ould Aja stressed that climate change is a significant factor in economic and social fragility, with extreme weather events having profound impacts on food security, population displacement, and regional stability.
Africa is particularly vulnerable to climate change, despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. The continent requires enhanced international solidarity, particularly in climate finance, adaptation, technology transfer, and capacity building. The Mauritanian government has prioritized environmental protection, climate action, and sustainable development, implementing policies and programs to enhance resilience, protect natural resources, and support productive sectors.
The forum takes place ahead of the 31st Conference of Parties (COP31) in Antalya, Turkey. Participants aim to strengthen coordination, amplify the voices of African nations, and emphasize the needs of vulnerable countries. The Mauritanian government has submitted its third nationally determined contribution (CDN 3.0), focusing on land restoration, coastal protection, biodiversity conservation, and green economy development.
The forum seeks to promote a comprehensive approach to addressing climate-related risks, integrating climate action into economic, social, and security policies. Participants emphasize the importance of regional cooperation, sharing resources, and coordinating responses to climate-related challenges. The forum aims to produce concrete and actionable recommendations to enhance cooperation and address the interconnected challenges of climate change, peace, and security.
The High-Level Forum on Climate, Peace, and Security is a crucial platform for dialogue and action, bringing together stakeholders from the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions. The forum's outcomes are expected to contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the climate-peace-security nexus and inform strategies for addressing these interconnected challenges.
Prime Minister Ould Aja concluded his opening speech by declaring the forum open, on behalf of Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani. The forum's success will depend on the active engagement of participants and the implementation of concrete actions to address the challenges posed by climate change, peace, and security in the region.
Key points
- The forum aims to produce actionable recommendations to enhance cooperation and address the interconnected challenges of climate change, peace, and security in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions.
