Madam President,
Thank you for organising this meeting.
Switzerland condemns in the strongest possible terms Russia's military aggression on Ukraine. Switzerland is deeply shocked by the bombing of a children's hospital in Mariupol and condemns in the strongest terms this act of inconceivable inhumanity. Switzerland urges Russia to respect its international commitments and to immediately stop bombing civilians and civilian infrastructure. At the same time, another enormous challenge facing our generation and future generations, climate change, needs our attention. As the Secretary-General has pointed out, "climate change is not the source of all evil, but it is a multiplier effect and is becoming an aggravating factor of instability".
Climate finance can contribute to peace and security. It supports mitigation efforts, which are essential to reduce the extent of future climate change and which limit climate-related security risks. Adaptation measures improve the resilience of populations and contribute to stability. Switzerland is contributing to global climate finance efforts aimed at raising USD 100 billion. In 2020, Switzerland's international climate finance amounted to USD 623 million.
I would like to highlight the following points:
Firstly, countries affected by conflict are particularly vulnerable to climate risks. As their capacity to adapt is reduced. Together with the Think Tank Igarapé, Switzerland has highlighted this link through data studies on the Sahel and the Horn of Africa. Climate finance should therefore address this double vulnerability. For its part, Switzerland supports communities in Burkina Faso, for example, in adapting their livestock practices and herd management to climate and security challenges.
Secondly, while women are indispensable actors for peace and prosperous and stable societies, they are particularly affected by the consequences of climate change. We must therefore redouble our efforts to put them at the centre of climate action, particularly in the area of adaptation. Switzerland allocates 58% of its bilateral public climate funding for adaptation. In its cooperation programmes, Switzerland takes into account the particular needs of women and children.
Third, climate finance should be seen as part of a whole range of instruments that contribute to peace and security, not in isolation. Peacebuilding measures need to be better resourced to anticipate and respond to climate risks. These risks need to be adequately considered in the mandates of peace missions, and the capacity of UN staff to address the peace and security implications of climate change should be strengthened.
We encourage UN agencies and Member States to further integrate climate risks into their relevant programmes and activities. Switzerland remains committed to sustainable development, climate action and peace.
Thank you for your attention.