The COP29 Presidency and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have co-hosted a high-level roundtable focused on climate, peace, and human mobility during the UN General Assembly week on September 22.

Given that climate change is a significant factor in displacement and migration, the event highlighted the critical need for specific policy recommendations and actionable strategies to tackle the underlying causes of climate-induced displacement.

The roundtable centred on the vital connections between climate and peace, specifically addressing water scarcity, food insecurity, and land degradation. Its goal was to stimulate practical solutions and contribute to discussions at COP29 on important topics related to this nexus.

IOM Director General Amy Pope stated that the intersection of climate change and conflict represents one of the most urgent challenges now, resulting in severe consequences for some of the world's most vulnerable populations.

“We need to act now to address the root causes of climate-induced displacement and build resilience in affected communities," Amy said. 

The event also sought to support the establishment of a new Centre of Excellence outlined in the Joint Communique of the COP29 Climate and Peace co-lead initiative. The Centre aims to bridge gaps in international cooperation and financing for the most vulnerable, while fostering synergies between the outcomes of the Summit of the Future and the Peace Relief and Recovery Day at COP29.

Senior Adviser to the COP29 Presidency, Ambassador Elshad Iskandarov, stated that the upcoming COP29 Peace Relief and Recovery Day in Baku aims to produce tangible results to enhance support for countries facing the compounded challenges of climate extremes and conflict.

He noted that the high-level roundtable is a significant milestone on the path to November, offering an essential platform for governments, UN agencies, and other stakeholders to unite and create concrete solutions for the complex challenges at the intersection of climate, peace, and human mobility.

“In the face of the climate-driven challenges to human security we must work together to ensure a more sustainable, inclusive and peaceful future for all," Elshad stated.

The roundtable included prominent participants, such as representatives from the COP29 Presidency, IOM, the governments of Italy and Egypt, the Green Climate Fund, the Asian Development Bank, the European Investment Bank, the World Bank Group, and the UN Department for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs. 

The event aims to generate specific policy recommendations that will guide discussions at COP29 and facilitate the establishment of the Centre of Excellence on Climate Action for Peace.

The Centre will act as a hub for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and innovation, concentrating on solutions to climate-induced displacement and other human security issues resulting from climate extremes, such as water scarcity, food insecurity, and land degradation.