Mogadishu hosts first-ever climate talk linking peace and environmental action

In a city long associated with conflict and instability, Mogadishu this past week staged a different kind of gathering—one that sought to connect climate action with peacebuilding.

The Somali capital hosted the inaugural Mogadishu Climate Talk, a forum organized by the German Embassy in Somalia in collaboration with the Somali Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Berghof Foundation.

The event brought together policymakers, civil society representatives, and international partners to discuss how climate change is shaping Somalia’s security and stability.

“This is not just a climate conference—it is a peace dialogue,” German Ambassador Sebastian Groth said in his opening remarks.

“And it is vital that we hold this conversation here, in Mogadishu, where the impacts of climate change are not abstract projections, but daily realities.”

Unlike previous international forums often held in regional hubs like Nairobi or Addis Ababa, the decision to convene the talks in Mogadishu was deliberate.

Organizers said it was meant to root the discussion in Somali realities and elevate local voices in global climate discourse.

Although Somalia contributes minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is among the most climate-vulnerable nations.

With more than 80 percent of its population relying on agriculture and pastoralism, the country faces frequent droughts, floods, and rising temperatures that threaten livelihoods and deepen instability.

“Climate change in Somalia is a threat multiplier,” Ambassador Groth stressed. “It deepens existing vulnerabilities, fuels displacement, and strains already scarce natural resources. But it also provides a unique opportunity to build resilience through cooperation.”

Panel discussions examined how environmental pressures intersect with land disputes, migration, and long-standing socio-political tensions.

Participants underscored that climate adaptation measures could also serve as tools for peacebuilding and strengthening institutional trust.

Somalia has taken steps to strengthen climate governance, including the rollout of its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), a national adaptation plan, and enhanced access to the Green Climate Fund.

“These are no small achievements in a complex environment,” Groth said. “They reflect the determination of Somali institutions and the growing recognition that the climate crisis must be met with serious, sustained action.”

He added that environmental policy has become “a rare space for constructive collaboration across Somalia’s federal and regional institutions—an encouraging sign in a politically fragmented landscape.”

The Berghof Foundation, which has a long track record in peacebuilding initiatives across Somalia, facilitated the forum with an emphasis on inclusive dialogue.

Women, youth, and community leaders were central to the discussions, bringing lived experiences to the table.

“Peacebuilding and climate resilience must go hand in hand,” one youth representative said. “Our communities are ready to lead—we just need the tools and trust to do so.”

The talks also tied Somali perspectives to global priorities ahead of the COP30 summit in Brazil, highlighting how grassroots experiences can inform international climate action.

For many participants, the Mogadishu Climate Talk was both symbolic and practical—a beginning rather than an end.

“It is our hope that this is the beginning of a sustained dialogue,” Ambassador Groth said in his closing remarks.

“One that continues to bridge the climate-peace divide and places Somalia not only as a recipient of global support, but as a contributor to global solutions.”

As the gathering concluded, organizers said the event reflected Mogadishu’s resilience and its determination to shape a more sustainable and peaceful future—one where climate action and peacebuilding advance hand in hand.