OSCE Chairpersonship Conference on Climate and Security: Unleashing the Potential of the Comprehensive Approach

The Finnish OSCE Chairpersonship is hosting a Conference on Climate and Security in Espoo, Finland, on 11 June 2025. The Conference will offer a space for expert-level exchange on current climate, peace and security environment. The event draws from the Finnish whole-of-society approach to crisis preparedness.

The conference will:

• Address the current state of affairs in climate and security agenda.
• Discuss climate and security matters from a holistic and comprehensive perspective.
• Contribute to an effort to identify the comparative advantage of the OSCE in the broad field of international actors engaged in climate action.
• Elaborate on the pathways to strengthen climate resilience and promote safety and security of the people in the OSCE region.

In order to be Resilient Together, we need stronger synergies at international and national levels. The conference promotes inclusive multi-stakeholder approaches including co-operation with international organizations, private sector and civil society actors. The Conference discusses environmental and climate cost of conflicts, the participation of business in shaping climate security, and the role of environmental and climate defenders.

The Conference will be live-streamed. The streaming link will be posted on this webpage closer to the Conference.

Participants

The Conference will bring together officials from the OSCE, the participating States and Partners for Co-operation, as well as representatives of civil society, academia, the private sector and other international organizations.

Agenda

Thursday, 11 June

10:00-10:45 Setting the scene – opening speeches

10:45-11:45 Session 1: Environmental and climate impact of conflicts and the role of the OSCE

11:45-12:00 Cultural programme

12:00-13:00 Lunch            

13:00-14:00 Session 2: Whole-of-society approach to climate security: the role of business in crisis preparedness and resilience work

14:00-14:15 Keynote  

14:15-14:45 Coffee break

14:45-15:45  Session 3: Environmental and climate defenders

15:45-16:30 Closing remarks