Sustainable development and cooperation for disaster resilience – inclusive pathways with civil society, governments and more: focus on Latin America and the Caribbean
By Beatrice Levorato Barsotti
On the 12th of June 2024, 15 embassies, representatives of international organizations, among which the IOM and Save the Children, numerous NGOs [BL1] , gathered for the 15th meeting of The Hague Roundtable on Climate and Security, held at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), in The Hague. The Roundtable, focused on Latin America and the Caribbean, was organized in collaboration with, ISS Humanitarian Studies Centre (HSC) and The Hague Humanity Hub.
The meeting was characterized by an action-based dialogue, and a free flow of opinions, in which international representatives had the opportunity to exchange views and information with experts on the field.
The session was opened by the organizer and founder of The Hague Roundtable, Matt Luna, and the co-moderator, Dr. Thea Hilhorst, Professor of Humanitarian Studies at the ISS. Following the warm introduction from the Rector of the Institute – Prof. Dr. Ruard Ganzevoort, the panel discussions were opened by Ronald Jackson, Head of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery for Building Resilience department at the UNDP in Geneva.
Mr. Jackson, formerly the Head of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), had already participated in a 2019 Roundtable via online while on a hurricane recovery mission in the Caribbean. This year, the Head of the UNDP DRR Department delivered a presentation titled “Bridging the Silos,” discussing the role of multilateralism in resilience building and how risk informs future developments. Mr. Jackson emphasized that multilateralism is the fundamental cornerstone for addressing global challenges, particularly in risk reduction management. He shared an enlightening reflection on our perception of resilience, questioning whether we aim to make the climate resilient or ourselves resilient to the climate.
After evaluating current scenarios and challenges in DRR, and linking them to the significance of multilateralism, Mr. Jackson outlined several challenges to the multilateral system, including the perceived inability to mobilize global opinion, develop shared political will, and provide timely responses to complex issues. Other challenges he noted were multiple and siloed global development frameworks, nation-first policies, funding architectures, systemic risks, and the competition for resources, which contributes to a lack of coherence in international institutions.
In this difficult scenario, Mr. Jackson emphasised the positive efforts fostered by the UN, such as the holistic Agenda 2030. He stressed the importance of aligning policies with the SDGs to addressing systemic risks and building resilience through a bottom-up approach. Mr. Jackson underscored the need for innovative cooperation among states, stakeholders, and various actors.
He concluded by emphasizing the importance of strengthening multilateralism, not through radical restructuring, but through collective action towards shared objectives. Creating seamless, objective-driven processes can yield quicker, resilience-focused development. Finally, embracing, encouraging, and strengthening multilateral efforts is paramount to addressing global challenges effectively, fostering sustainable development, and enhancing collective resilience against future risks.
Dr. Murat Arsel, Professor of Political Economy of Sustainable Development at ISS, discussed the intersection of sustainability, development, and political ecology, with a particular focus on his work in Latin America and the Amazon region. His presentation began with a striking image of a town in Ecuador, where the majority of workers are employed in the oil sector. This dependency creates a dangerous reliance on the industry and poses a significant challenge for the green transition.
Dr. Arsel highlighted the difficulty of creating a form of capitalism that does not depend on fossil fuels, emphasizing that ‘renewable capitalism’ is both possible and already emerging. In the context of a post-climate change world, numerous questions must be analyzed. Firstly, what happens when oil production ceases? How can dwindling revenues be rapidly replaced? For countries like Nigeria and Ecuador, which are highly dependent on oil resources, Dr. Arsel suggested compensation as a potential solution—compensating these countries in exchange for halting extraction. He also addressed the risks of social conflict arising from the transition and the geopolitical challenges posed by China’s significant competition in the sector.
Dr. Farhad Mukhtarov, Asst. Professor of Public Policy and Governance at ISS, discussed the opportunities and pitfalls of exporting technologies and expertise in water management for climate adaptation, with a focus on COP29. He emphasized the dilemmas and choices faced by practitioners involved in foreign policy related to water, climate, and security. Dr. Mukhtarov advocated for shifting from merely transferring expertise to co-creating change, highlighting the need to transform the Dutch water sector by fostering greater social inclusivity in internationally funded projects (Bliss, 2024).
Dr. Mukhtarov stressed the need for reflexivity and humility, urging practitioners to be conscious of power relationships and dynamics within their teams. He called for a different approach to utilizing and communicating knowledge—one that emphasizes empathy and acknowledges local wisdoms to foster trust.
He argued that these actions require critical listening, mindfulness of one’s responses, and the cultivation of reflexivity and curiosity in working with others. By adopting this approach, transferring expertise becomes translating, positioning both the Netherlands and the recipient countries as co-authors in a true shift from transferring expertise to co-creating change.
Meike van Ginneken, the Netherlands Water Envoy, contributed to The Hague Roundtable on Climate & Security via online video. Van Ginneken underscored the critical role of transboundary water cooperation, highlighting the importance of dialogue, conflict resolution mechanisms, and trust-building during peacetime. She pointed to the profound impact of climate change on water resources and the increasing potential for water-related conflicts, stressing the urgent need to strengthen transboundary water management.
In her presentation, Van Ginneken discussed the Netherlands’ ongoing collaboration with international partners, including the United Nations and the World Bank, to address the complex challenges of transboundary water management and support sustainable development. She emphasized the necessity of collaboration, knowledge sharing, and coalition-building to effectively tackle these global challenges.
Van Ginneken’s contributions reflected the Netherlands’ deep commitment to inclusive and sustainable climate action.
Following the panel discussion, H.E. Mr. Rahman Mustafayev, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the Netherlands, interveened and talked about the upcoming COP29, that will be hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, this November. The ambassador outlined the dyanmics and work behind the preparation for the COP29.
As the host country, Azerbaijan has taken significant steps in preparation for the conference. Initially, before June, the focus was on learning and studying, involving extensive meetings with various countries, delegations, private sectors, social societies, and financial institutions. Since June, the second phase has emphasized interaction and finding common ground among the 198 countries and over 20 international organizations and groups involved, despite often facing difficult and contrasting positions.
The ambassador noticed how the urgency of the climate crisis is underscored by May 2024 being the hottest May on record, with unprecedented temperatures over the last 12 months. From a financial perspective, H.E. noted that despite substantial financial commitments, including an initial target of $100 billion by 2020 set in Copenhagen and a current goal of $2 trillion, investments in African countries continue to be perceived as high risk. Azerbaijan is also focusing on collaboration with small islands, addressing their critical survival issues. Beyond fostering dialogue and bridging countries, Azerbaijan aims to lead by example, targeting the achievement of renewable energy goals by 2027. This shift to green energy, currently funded by the EU, involves collaboration with Georgia, Hungary, and other partners.
After the panel discussion, participants were divided into breakout groups to focus on various critical aspects of sustainability and climate resilience. These groups explored 1) climate justice and the role of civil society, 2) feminist foreign policy in diplomacy for resilience development and 3) resilience and diplomacy action across regions and sectors.
The event concluded with a networking reception, reinforcing the collaborative spirit of the day. A key objective of the Roundtable on Climate and Security is to gather the opinions and voices of international communities. Matt Luna, of The Hague Roundtable, actively participates in COP events and will be attending COP29 in Azerbaijan this year. Thus, the Roundtable serves not only as a platform for knowledge exchange and discussion but also as a crucial forum for expressing diverse viewpoints. It is an integral part of the democratic process that characterizes the COPs on climate.
For more information: see the report from the 15th Hague Roundtable and a 2-minute video recap.
Note that the 16th Hague Roundtable on Climate & Security is scheduled for 18 September on “Climate Chaos and Law Enforcement” at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. Expression of interest in attending can be sent through the Roundtable contact page.
For More Information / Sources
Bliss, ISS Blog. “From Transferring Expertise to Co-Creating Change – the Dutch Water Sector Needs a Transformation.” Bliss, May 13, 2024. https://issblog.nl/2024/05/13/from-transferring-expertise-to-co-creating-change-the-dutch-water-sector-needs-a-transformation/.
[BL1]Presence: Embassy of Colombia, Municiaplity of The Hague, Embassy of Costa Rica, Embassy of Chile, Humanitarian Studies Centre, Guatemala, Panama, Embassy of Canada, Swedish Embassy, Turkish Embassy, Italian Embassy, The Hague Univeristy of Applied Scieces, Government of Netherlands, Climate Security Program for The Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, IOM, Embassy of Tanzania, Embassy of Spain, Institute of Landscape Studies from Zurich, Save the Children International, (ISS representatives…), The Hague Humanitarian Centre, Ambassador of Azerbaijan
