Overview
- Germany’s Berlin Climate and Security Conference opened Tuesday with Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul saying investments in climate protection are investments in security.
- Wadephul warned that renewed Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid this winter could make decentralized renewable systems a lifeline for homes, hospitals and local services.
- About 250 participants from science, affected countries and international bodies including the UN and EU are meeting at the Auswärtiges Amt to develop concrete policy and operational responses.
- Speakers stressed that climate impacts in fragile states worsen hunger and resource stress, which can fuel extremism, terrorism and migration pressures that drive instability.
- The conference, held annually since 2019, aims to move beyond analysis toward actionable steps such as funding resilience projects, expanding local renewables and strengthening protection for critical infrastructure.