Climate change has serious implications for international security and the European Union (EU) must address these threats, EU heads of state and government were told at a summit.
"The risks posed by climate change are real and its impacts are already taking place," says a paper prepared for the summit by EU foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana and the European Commission.
The EU is advised to take action both internally and with third countries to address the challenge.
The threats posed by climate change include conflict over resources, tension over energy supply, loss of territory and border disputes, and environmentally-induced migration.
"Climate change is best viewed as a threat multiplier which exacerbates existing trends, tensions and instability. The core challenge is that climate change threatens to overburden states and regions which are already fragile and conflict prone," says the report published Friday.
It warns that the issue involves political and security risks that directly affect European interests.
The report suggests that the EU is in a unique position to respond to this issue given its leading role in development, global climate change policy and the wide array of tools and instruments at its disposal.
It recommends that the active role of the EU in the international climate change negotiations is vital and must continue while other important players, such as the United States, China, India and Russia, must be engaged.
Climate change is an important issue on the agenda of the ongoing EU spring summit. However, leaders are yet to hammer out an implementation roadmap on the overall targets agreed last year.
Source: Xinhua
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