The French president has asserted that combating terrorism requires tackling climate change. This may have left some people bewildered. The French leader maintains that this is indeed the case. France is currently one of the countries making the greatest efforts to combat climate change. But what does this have to do with terrorism? Is he misunderstanding something, or have others misinterpreted it?
Macron asserts that the relationship is very close. He defines it as follows: "We cannot be fighting terrorism without decisive action on climate change, or we will have to explain to the people living in Chad, Niger, and other places that climate change is not a problem." He maintained that these problems cannot be treated separately. Much of what is happening in Africa, including climate-related issues, stems from industrial processes and our production methods. Therefore, Africa, climate, and industrial development must be treated as one and the same.
What does Macron use to affirm these conclusions?
Among the latest reports published over the last two years, one of the best, commissioned by the German Foreign Ministry, is " Insurgency, Terrorism and Organized Crime in a Warming Climate ."
This report, unlike others that have been published, details specific situations where climate problems are very closely linked to the people of the affected regions. Social unrest, climate refugees, droughts in certain areas, etc. This entire array of climate problems leads people to seek solutions and often to migrate to other areas. The so-called climate refugees, for example. That's why Macron's statement doesn't seem absurd; it makes perfect sense. You can't attack terrorism and then tell people they can return to their countries when the problem still exists.
For all these reasons, Macron says that all these problems must be tackled equally, and he has already organized a new G20 summit in Paris for this coming December 12.
It will deal with problems and commitments that countries must adopt in the fight against climate change. It is not something that is new for Macron in the wake of this latest summit in Hamburg, his commitment has been there long before. Even inviting engineers and scientists from the US to go to France to tackle these global problems.
Countries that are being severely affected by the climate
Among the most vulnerable, we have clear evidence that in Africa the vulnerability index to the effects of climate change is alarming. Countries like those Macron mentions, Chad and Niger, are not isolated cases, but neither are they isolated. A large number of countries already have, and will have, serious problems. The Republic of Congo, Uganda, South Sudan and Sudan, Mali, Madagascar, Syria, and Kenya are just some of the most vulnerable.
We must put a stop to this growing problem now. Otherwise, emigration will continue, and according to reports, terrorism alone isn't enough. The problem isn't over.
A significant and highly representative case can be seen in Lake Chad. From 1963 onward, it has gradually dried up until it is now almost completely dry. In 2009, Boko Haram took up arms to establish the Islamic State. Since then, more than 20.000 people have died, and 2,6 million have been forced to flee in search of refuge. The crisis caused by the drying up of Lake Chad is enormous and has been ignored for far too long. The United Nations estimates that more than $1.500 billion is needed to meet the needs this year alone.
Edward Kallon, originally from Sierra Leone and coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme in Nigeria, says the community's commitment is a good start. However, regarding the immediate risk of famine, Kallon said, "The situation is getting worse and worse; it's not improving."
It's no longer just about war and terrorism. Macron didn't say anything absurd. We must begin to solve these problems, where there are fewer and fewer habitable regions.
