Launch of the Nairobi Toolkit on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event).

This panel will present the Toolkit's main findings and recommendations; The discussion will focus on how climate risks can be systematically integrated into counterterrorism and P/CVE strategies, and how climate action can be designed and delivered in ways that avoid exacerbating local tensions.

As the impacts of climate change accelerate globally, their interaction with fragility, conflict, and violent extremism conducive to terrorism is becoming a growing concern for international peace and security. Climate change worsens drivers of violent extremism, by reducing economic opportunities, forced displacement, the erosion of local governance, and social grievances, creating opportunities for violent extremist groups to exploit. Their presence can also undermine climate adaptation efforts, restrict humanitarian access, and impede sustainable development, contributing to a cycle of instability. In response to these challenges, the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) established the Initiative on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism, co-led by Germany and Kenya, with the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) as the implementing partner. The Initiative’s key outcome is the Nairobi Toolkit on Addressing the NexusBetween Climate Change and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism, which provides prevention focused guidance for policymakers and practitioners in counterterrorism (CT), preventing and countering violent extremism (P/CVE), and climate action. This event will mark the launch of the Toolkit, which seeks to promote a critical – but still emerging – dialogue between the counterterrorism and P/CVE community and climate-related policy and practice. The Toolkit was developed through an extensive, consultative, multi-stakeholder process that brought together Member States, international organisations, civil society, academia, practitioners from the security, development, and environmental fields, and multiple UN entities, including members of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact. 

The Toolkit responds directly to calls for greater policy coherence across multilateral frameworks on prevention, sustaining peace, climate, and development. By identifying clear entry points for integrated programming and financing, the Toolkit supports Member States, UN entities, donors and partners seeking high-impact, preventive investments at the intersection of climate resilience, peace, and security. The Nairobi Toolkit will also promote whole-of-government and whole-of-society approaches to prevention, addressing a growing demand for evidence-based, conflict-sensitive climate action in fragile, terrorism-affected areas. The Toolkit clarifies the key pathways through which climate change, climate action and violent extremism conducive to terrorism interact. It proposes a set of practical recommendations grounded in established GCTF good practice; and presents diverse case studies illustrating how these dynamics play out across regions and settings. Co-hosted by Germany and Kenya, the Co-Leads of this Initiative, and GCERF, this panel will present the Toolkit’s main findings and recommendations. The discussion will focus on how climate risks can be systematically integrated into counterterrorism and P/CVE strategies, and how climate action can be designed and delivered in ways that avoid exacerbating local tensions. Participants will also explore how actors working across prevention, sustaining peace, climate, and development can use a shared analytical framework to enhance planning, coordination, and impact. The launch will also provide an opportunity to reflect on next steps to advance this agenda at both policy and programming levels. Discussions will focus on how the Toolkit can be effectively disseminated, institutionalized within existing national and multilateral frameworks, and enacted to support communities facing the compounded challenges of climate change and violent extremism conducive to terrorism.

Ultimately, the Toolkit offers Member States and partners a practical resource for translating shared commitments into action – supporting climate responses that contribute to prevention and peace, and prevention strategies that are informed by climate risk and grounded in sustainability.

 Indicative Agenda 

1. Opening Remarks • A Representative of Germany • A Representative of Kenya 

2. Panel Discussion • Moderator: GCERF• High-level Representative of a Member State • High-level Representative of a Member State • A Representative of a civil society organisation • A Representative of the UN 

3. Moderated discussion

4. Closing Remarks 

This event will be held in person only. A Livestream will be available here. All in-person participants must have a valid ground pass to access the UN premises. Please choose the access option applicable to you. Member States requiring UN ground passes should be registered through the e-delegate portal. 

Delegates already holding valid UN ground passes may use their existing passes to access the Conference. Participants from IROs, CSOs, academia and other stakeholders who are not registered through Member State Permanent Missions should register through the Indico platform.

Related Sites and Documents: Concept Note & Invite.

Watch the launch of the Nairobi Toolkit on Addressing the Nexus Between Climate Change and Violent Extremism Conducive to Terrorism (Counter-Terrorism Week Side Event)!

Side Events