News and press releases

To increase awareness and discuss regional co-operation on climate change and security, the OSCE gathered more than 40 representatives from its field operations to meet in Istanbul for a workshop on 13 and 14 December 2023. Emphasizing that the effects of climate change can exacerbate economic challenges and environmental degradation, which may negatively affect prosperity, stability and security in the OSCE area, the OSCE provides a platform for political dialogue on a wide range of issues associated with climate related security risks. These conversations form the basis for the implementation of activities on the ground.

The strategic outlook for energy markets, system vulnerabilities, and industry competition took centre stage at this year’s edition of the Vienna Energy Security Dialogue. Titled “Looking Ahead: Shaping the Post-Crises Global Energy Market(s)”, the annual event took place on 25 October in partnership with the World Energy Council Austria, the Federation of Austrian Industries, and Ernst and Young Austria.

The role of Aarhus Centres in promoting public participation in environmental decision-making, transition towards green economy, and management of hazardous and toxic wastes took centre stage at the 2023 Aarhus Centres Annual Meeting, held in Dushanbe and online on 17 and 18 October.

Marking International Day for Disaster Reduction, the OSCE underlines the vital role of wildfire risk reduction, landscape fire management, and fire early warning in responding to the growing challenges posed by climate change.

On 21 September, 40 participants representing municipalities, civil society organizations, and academia from South-Eastern Europe convened in Sarajevo to discuss the impacts of climate change and air pollution on health, and to explore local solutions. The meeting was organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in collaboration with the OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From 17 to 26 August 2023, twenty young people from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan gathered in the northern Tian Shan mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan to learn about climate-related security risks in mountain areas and deliberate on innovative solutions and

VIENNA, 7 July 2023 — Strengthening co-operation across borders to tackle climate-related challenges and security risks took centre stage at the OSCE High-Level Conference on Climate Change, which took place at the Hofburg in Vienna on 7 July.