Thank you, Mr Chair. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for your informative and entertaining presentations on this fascinating topic.
As chair of the Economic and Environmental Committee, (EEC), I want to thank you for dedicating a session on a topic that is extremely important and relevant to the OSCE. We all know that changes in the environment can have an adverse effect on security. This includes the increased impact of climate change on security through issues like crop failure, resource scarcity, and driving displacement.
As we have all heard, insecurity and conflict can also have an effect on the environment. It can cause pollution, contamination, and degrading to those directly affected, as well as spillover consequences for the surrounding region.
Secretary General Helga Shmid recently statedWe are increasingly seeing accounts of the potentially dangerous environmental effects of President Putins illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. As always, innocent civilians pay the highest price.
International humanitarian law recognizes that armed conflict can cause some damage to the environment. It also includes provisions for protecting the environment and requires warring parties take into account the possibility of environmental harm. This is something Russia ignores.
Yesterday was International Chernobyl Disaster Remembrance Day. We are deeply concerned to have seen attacks on Ukrainian nuclear facilities. We are deeply worried about the working conditions at Zaporizhzhya as well as at the Chernobyl site. The Ukrainian authorities must have full access to all nuclear facilities located on Ukraine’s sovereign territory. We are ready to support Ukraine, and we will work with international agencies and experts to ensure that all possible risks have been considered. These risks can spread to other countries in the region, as we saw in 1986 when Poland, Hungary, and Scandinavia all experienced increased radiation levels after the Chernobyl disaster.
The environmental damage that militaries can cause has been shown by the horrific attacks in Ukraine. Even militaries at peace can have a significant environmental impact. In the UK, for example defense accounts for 50% of central government emission. Future plans for our armed forces include embracing the green energy transition. This will include testing new types and fuel standards as well as energy storage. How we will achieve this is laid out in the Climate Change and Sustainability Strategic Approach report of our defense ministry.
The war waged by President Putin against Ukraine has led to the destruction of gas pipelines as well as thermal and hydroelectric power plant. This destruction of energy infrastructure causes insecurity far beyond Ukraine’s borders. Our Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure in the UK has updated their guidance on personnel security and hostile activity.
Mr. Chair, the UK believes the OSCE will play a role in a post-Ukraine conflict context. For example: Last years decision on security and climateThis was a long-fought battle that provided a solid foundation for the OSCE’s continued work and collaboration among participating States. However, conflicts can also damage the planet and divert attention and resources from addressing existential climate problems and reduce the cooperation required to address them. When this is possible again, we look forward to this sense of collaboration.
This war has been chosen by President Putin, as well as the international isolation that it brings. Many countries are limiting their use of Russian energy. The UK plans on phasing out imports from Russia by the end of the year. Our collective dependence upon Putin’s oil & gas is a moral as well as practical imperative. We must accelerate our drive for renewables, go twice the speed on wind, and make better uses of hydrocarbons to reduce our dependency.
The world will collectively show its disgust at President Putin’s illegal war of aggression and stop buying his oil and gasoline. In the end, Russia will be forced to return human misery to one of its most successful international exports.
We are grateful.
