Germany hosted the first-ever high-level climate talks in Mogadishu, a forum that connected Somalia’s climate crisis with peace and security challenges while putting community perspectives at the centre of the debate.
Organised by the German Embassy in Nairobi in partnership with Somalia’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change and the Berghof Foundation, the forum brought together government officials, traditional elders, women and youth leaders, civil society actors and peacebuilders from across the country, including Balad, Galkayo and Beledweyne.
German Ambassador Sebastian Groth described the initiative as “a deliberate effort to shift influence toward local solutions,” highlighting the role communities must play in responding to climate pressures. “It’s really a pleasure for me to welcome you for this first Climate Talk that we organised here in Mogadishu,” he said. “The subject we have chosen, the nexus between security and climate change, is extremely relevant, both for Somalia and for Germany.”
Although Somalia contributes only 0.00024 percent of global emissions, it is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change. Citing research from Germany’s Potsdam Institute, Groth warned that Somalia faces a temperature rise of between 1.3 and 2.5 degrees Celsius by 2050, coupled with sea level rise and increasingly erratic rainfall. “Somalia is a model case for this discussion,” he said, noting that 80 percent of Somalis depend on farming and pastoralism, sectors highly exposed to environmental shocks.
The Ambassador described how droughts and floods are intensifying displacement, aggravating old grievances and sparking competition over land and water. “A vicious cycle between environmental degradation, community-level conflicts and further environmental decline poses a significant risk,” the Ambassador stated. “Climate change acts as a catalyst for existing tensions,” he said.
Groth underlined Germany’s support through its partnership with the Berghof Foundation, which has built networks of local peacebuilders. “The idea behind the Berghof project and our partnership with the Somali government is to make the environmental question a question for peace, not for conflict,” he explained. He praised Berghof’s work on awareness-raising, grassroots mediation and community-based environmental projects, noting that climate issues became a core part of the program in 2020 after being recognised as a key driver of conflict.
The Ambassador also commended Somalia’s Ministry of Environment for delivering NDC 3.0, producing an adaptation plan and accessing the Green Climate Fund, despite limited institutional capacity. “I know it’s not easy,” he said. “But you’ve already delivered the NDC 3.0, developed an adaptation plan and successfully tapped into the Green Climate Fund, an instrument Germany helped establish.”
He highlighted cooperation between federal and state environmental directors as a positive example of technical coordination in a politically fragile system. He also stressed the importance of women and youth in shaping solutions. “They suffer the most, they have the best ideas and they have the energy to implement change. Their voices are becoming more and more important in international climate negotiations,” he said.
Looking ahead, Groth encouraged Somalia to take part in major international platforms, such as COP 30 in Brazil, UNEA-7 in Nairobi and the Berlin Climate and Security Conference, where Somalia’s Minister of Environment will deliver a keynote address. “This is a crucial opportunity for Somalia to make its case clear, in the heart of Europe, to climate and security experts,” he said.
As Somalia grapples with intensifying climate shocks and fragile security, many participants saw Germany’s Climate Talk as a model for future collaboration. They welcomed the forum as one that centres local leadership, fosters peace and channels international support towards community-driven solutions.