New York, NY | March 14, 2025 –The Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security launched two new reports yesterday on climate and security at a high-level event hosted by the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations and the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, D.C. on the sidelines of the 69th Session on the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
The reports aim to advance the intersection of gender, climate, and security–one of the priority themes for the Danish Government during its presidency of the United Nations Security Council this month.
“Denmark is committed to advancing both the WPS Agenda and the Climate, Peace, and Security Agenda. We believe these agendas should not be handled in silos,” said Ambassador Christina Markus Lassen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the United Nations. “Climate change and gender inequality are more intertwined than we often acknowledge.”
The reports outline concrete actions to integrate climate considerations into the WPS architecture at the United Nations and were supported by the Embassy of Denmark in Washington, DC.
A report on “Advancing Gender, Climate, and Security in the UN Security Council: A Blueprint for Action” highlights opportunities for UN Member States and other relevant stakeholders to drive progress on these interconnected challenges. Recommendations include that the UN Security Council host thematic debates and high-level meetings on the topic; establish regular Security Council briefings led by women from climate-vulnerable and conflict-affected regions; and strengthen climate change integration in the Secretary-General’s annual reports on WPS and across WPS thematic resolutions.
The second report, “Practical Guidance for Integrating Climate into WPS National Action Plans,” explores how National Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security (NAPs) can more effectively address climate-related security risks. While the share of WPS NAPs that mention climate change has slowly increased, this will not lead to transformative change without specific actions or commitments attached. The study recommends that future WPS NAPs adopt a whole-of-government approach to drafting the NAP; mainstream climate considerations across the NAP and the four pillars of WPS; and ensure accountability mechanisms through specific commitments in the implementation plan and budget.
“Today climate change is recognized as a serious security issue,” said Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Executive Director of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. “It is critical for the UN Security Council to focus on climate change as integral to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. We applaud Denmark’s leadership on climate change, gender equality and peace and security.”
The New York release coincides with pivotal moments in the global women’s rights movement—including the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
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About Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace, and Security (GIWPS)
Georgetown University’s Institute for Women, Peace and Security seeks to promote a more stable, peaceful, and just world by focusing on the important role women play in preventing conflict and building peace, growing economies, and addressing global threats like climate change and violent extremism. We engage in rigorous research, host global convenings, advance strategic partnerships, and nurture the next generation of leaders. Housed within the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown, the Institute is headed by the former U.S. Ambassador for Global Women’s Issues, Melanne Verveer. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at giwps.georgetown.edu and follow us on Twitter and Facebook @giwps and Instagram @georgetown_wps.
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