Berlin – Wadephul: Climate change could fuel migration and extremism

BERLIN, October 6 /ATSH-DPA/ – Climate change could alter the security situation in the world and cause new waves of migration, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said today at the opening of a conference in Berlin on climate and security.

He warned that the consequences of climate change could cause food shortages, extremism and terrorism, especially in the countries that are weakest.

“Climate change is worsening poverty and hunger, especially in the most vulnerable countries. This can create conditions that favour extremism and terrorism, or it can lead to new waves of migration,” the German minister said.

Wadephul warned that the “El Niño” climate phenomenon, which is currently reaching record levels, risks destroying the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people.

“In Sudan, the lack of rainfall is worsening the drought,” he said.

Meanwhile, low water levels in the Panama Canal are causing fewer ships to pass through it. This is creating problems for global supply chains, the network through which goods are transported from one country to another.

Wadephul said that investments to fight climate change are also investments in security.

About 250 international representatives from the fields of climate, peace and security are taking part in the Berlin conference.

It is attended by representatives from the countries most affected by climate change, the United Nations, the European Union and other international organisations, as well as scientists and representatives of civil society.

Wadephul stressed that the consequences of climate change should not be seen in isolation from other problems.

“Wherever there are wars and crises, climate change further worsens the situation,” he said.

According to the minister, actors who want to harm a country may try to use the consequences of climate change “as a weapon”.

He also mentioned the rise in world wheat prices. According to Wadephul, Russia is attacking ships transporting grain in the Black Sea, disrupting supplies for people in various countries of the world who depend heavily on imports.

If Russia again deliberately attacks Ukraine’s energy infrastructure at the end of the year, decentralised renewable energy sources could become a “lifeline”, he said.

These energy sources would be harder to destroy and would not depend on imports of fossil fuels, such as oil, gas and coal.