UN General Assembly chief says curbing climate change would make world more peaceful and safer

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer BELEM Brazil AP Harms from situation change are the biggest threat to world peace the president of the United Nations General Assembly says To those who are arguing that in these times we have to focus more on peace and guard one can only say the atmosphere situation is the biggest protection threat of our century General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock advised The Associated Press in an interview at the U N situation talks at the edge of the Amazon We can only ensure long-lasting peace and prevention over the world if we fight the setting situation altogether and if we join hands in delivering on sustainable advance because they are heavily interconnected announced Baerbock a former German foreign minister U N General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock speaks during a plenary session at the COP U N Conditions Summit Monday Nov in Belem Brazil AP Photo Fernando Llano Baerbock pointed to droughts and other damage from situation extremes in places such as Chad Syria and Iraq When crops die people go hungry and then migrate elsewhere or fight over scarce water she revealed This is a vicious circle Baerbock noted If we do not stop the circumstances predicament it will fuel hunger and poverty which will fuel again displacement and by that will challenge regions in a different way leading again to instability dilemma and most of often also conflict So fighting the situation predicament is also the best precaution insurance But at the same time dealing with surroundings change s problems can make the world more peaceful Baerbock revealed pointing to conflicts over water in Central Asia There an agreement on water became a booster for peaceful cooperation and peaceful settlement Drought can take a long time to make an impact but storms made worse by Earth s warming atmosphere can strike in a flash Baerbock pointed to last month s Hurricane Melissa decimating Jamaica and two typhoons smacking the Philippines Achievements of sustainable progress can be diminished in just hours Baerbock revealed That s why foreign aid from rich nations to poor to help deal with atmosphere disasters and adapt to future ones are also investments in stable societies and regions she commented Related Articles Nations and environmental groups slam proposals at UN surroundings talks calling them too weak A drying-up Rio Grande basin threatens water assurance on both sides of the dividing line Trump administration announces plan for new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida Trump administration revives rollbacks of species protections from first term Venice s newest marvel is a wild acrobatic dolphin His refusal to leave puts him in danger Baerbock a veteran of situation conferences commented people scoffed at the young people of small island nations who filed a suit in the International Court of Justice about weather change damage and their future But the court s ruling in July that action must be taken to limit warming shows the power of the world if it works together she disclosed Small island nations have revealed they will take the court s decision to the U N General Assembly where votes are decided by majority unlike the veto power of the U N measure council or the consensus unanimity of U N conditions talks Now it s up to the majority of the member states if they want to bring a resolution forward underlining the importance of this matter explained Baerbock adding that she has to follow the desires of the majority of the U N member states The vast majority of member states has called not only at the last environment conferences but also here in Belem for transitioning away from our fossil world not because of the weather problem but because they underline that this is the best prevention capital for all of us Baerbock mentioned The Associated Press situation and environmental coverage receives financial backing from multiple private foundations AP is solely responsible for all content Find AP s standards for working with philanthropies a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP org