UN official: Climate change threatens global peace

climate emergency "is a danger to peace" as climate change exacerbates existing risks of conflict "and creates new ones," a top United Nations official said on Friday.

Miroslav Jenca, Assistant Secretary-General for Europe, Central Asia and Americas, said "around world, fragile or conflict-affected situations are more exposed and less able to cope with effects of climate change."

Jenca was speaking at a virtual meeting convened by Germany which holds presidency of Security Council for month of July.

UN official highlighted that "7 of 10 countries most vulnerable and least prepared to deal with climate change host a peacekeeping operation or special political mission."

For his part, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said " fight against climate change should t divide us. We fight it to save ourselves."

(Representative im)