With
scientists predicting that land and water resources
will gradually become more scarce in the coming years,
and that global warming may irreversibly alter the
face of the planet, the United Nations Security Council
today held its first-ever debate on the impact of
climate change on security, as some delegates raised
doubts over whether the Council was the proper forum
to discuss the issue.
The day-long meeting,
called by the United Kingdom, aimed to examine the
relationship between energy, security and climate,
and featured interventions from more than 50 delegations,
representing imperilled island nations and industrialized
greenhouse gas emitters alike.
While some speakers praised the initiative, there
were reservations from developing countries, which
saw climate change as a socio-economic development
issue to be dealt with by the more widely representative
General Assembly.
Many delegations also called for the United Nations
to urgently consider convening a global summit on
the issue.
