Mr. Chair,

I would like to join the previous speakers in thanking  the Permanent Missions of Slovenia, Guyana, Sierra Leone and Republic of Korea for organizing such an important event on one of the defining challenges of our time.

As climate change is increasingly threatening sustainable development and prosperity, the effective enjoyment of human rights, and, in consecuently peace and security, the renewed attention  should be focused on the need for preventive action and multilateral response to such global challenge.

In our region, the Western Balkans, the interest towards global response to climate change remains crucial. The Western Balkans The Western Balkans, including Albania, are facing several significant climate risks due to their geographical and socio-economic conditions, which require coordinated efforts at local, national,  regional and global levels to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change. Investing in resilient infrastructure, sustainable practices, and effective policies is crucial to safeguard the region’s future.

Albania is taking significant steps to address the challenges posed by climate change and to enhance national and regional security. The Albanian government has integrated climate considerations into its national security strategy. This includes assessing the impacts of climate change on critical infrastructure, such as energy and water supply, and planning for potential security threats related to resource scarcity.

Colleagues,

-Today more than ever it is evident that no one and nowhere is immune from climate change.  It comes more visible as it diplayes the negative potential of prolonging instability and insecurity in countries already ravaged by violent conflicts and economic hardship.  We strongly encourage the Security Council to keep in its agenda the debate on climate change, peace and security,

-Climate change same as conflicts affects by far more women and girls, compared to other vulnerable groups. Therefore, every contribution by the Security Council in addressing the disproportionate impact of climate change on inequalities, gender-based violence, lack of access to natural resources, insecurity, is a contribution to the security of women, prevention of human trafficking, enforced disappearance, illegal migration, sexual abuse and slavery, and conflict-related sexual-violence, unlawful detention and many other threats that women face during the conflict cycle.

Finally, we support all the efforts in promoting resilience for mitigating climate change by the United Nations. The Pact of the Future is an opportunity for us to step up to achieve our ambition to save the future generations from climate disasters. Global crises require global responses and need more partnerships to succeed for a world climate-neutral by 2050.

While climate change has put a heavy burden on many governments, countries, financial institutions, etc., we must always be mindful that this threat is developing with a fast pace. Therefore, we should sprint collectively in order to respond to its threatening advancement, the earlier the better.

I thank you.