OSCE study bridges knowledge gaps on the linkages between climate change, human mobility, and security in South-Eastern Europe

On 19 November, the OSCE launched a study offering new insights into how climate change is shaping mobility patterns in South-Eastern Europe. The report “Linkages between Climate Change, Human Mobility, and Security in South-Eastern Europe,” prepared jointly with adelphi research and the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), underscores the growing relevance of climate-related mobility dynamics for security and stability across the region.

Opening the launch event, Bakyt Dzhusupov, Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA), emphasized that OSCE risk assessments on climate change and security have identified human mobility as a key regional challenge, including in South-Eastern Europe and Central Asia’s high mountain areas.

“This report helps fill significant knowledge gaps in understanding how these issues are interconnected and underscores the need for evidence-based, integrated policies that address mobility-related challenges and support resilience and adaptation” he said.

Neil Holland, Permanent Representative of the United Kingdom to the OSCE, welcomed the study and noted that climate change and environmental pressures are eroding livelihoods, disrupting economies and driving mobility within and across borders. 

Poorly managed mobility, he warned, can leave depopulated rural areas vulnerable to illicit activities and create labour shortages in sectors vital for climate adaptation. “These pressures have direct implications for regional security,” he stressed, adding that “the OSCE’s comprehensive approach to security uniquely positions the Organization to treat mobility as a critical security factor.”

Presenting the study, co-authors Dr. Beatrice Mosello (adelphi) and Dr. Roman Hoffmann (IIASA) explained how understanding the links between climate change, human mobility and security can help strengthen resilience and adaptation across the region. They shared several key take aways:

• Stronger regional co-operation - including through joint planning, data sharing, and governance - is essential for effective and resilient responses to climate, human mobility and security challenges.
• Policies and institutions need to take an integrated approach, addressing climate, mobility and security factors across all sectors and levels of governance.
• More investment in inclusive local initiatives is needed to help communities build climate-resilient livelihoods.;
• The transition to a green economy offers opportunities to promote sustainable growth and create jobs, boosting resilience across the region.

At the event, panels brought together international and regional organizations, government representatives, and experts to discuss how the study’s findings can be turned into action. Panellists at the event, including representatives from the Regional Co-operation Council, International Organization for Migration, OSCE Mission to Serbia, adelphi, IIASA, experts and academic institutions, highlighted the need for data-driven approaches, stronger early warning systems, and cross-border collaboration to boost community resilience both in South-Eastern Europe. Furthermore, panellists explored how the findings could be applied across the wider OSCE area, including Central Asia’s high mountain regions.

Following the report launch, OCEEA will continue working with stakeholders in South-Eastern Europe to implement its recommendations and is exploring opportunities to replicate similar approaches in other OSCE regions.

The report presentation and the following discussion was organized as part of the activity “Enhancing the evidence-based understanding of the climate change, human mobility and security nexus in South Eastern Europe”, supported by the United Kingdom. The activity is a component of the OSCE extra‑budgetary project “Strengthening responses to security risks from climate change in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, and Central Asia,” implemented by OCEEA in partnership with adelphi and in close collaboration with the OSCE field operations. The project is funded by Andorra, Austria, Czechia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.