The double cost crunch: Why climate investments are essential for security
When: Tuesday 06 October 2026 | 15:50 - 16:50
Format: Breakout session
Hosted by: The German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), the Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR), Indonesia, the Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), India, and the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Center, Environment for Development (REPRC-EfD) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Nigeria
Location: Breakout room 1 (Willy-Brandt-Saal)
In-person attendees can use the following link to register for the breakout session at BCSC: Agenda – BCSC 2026 Kindly note you must be logged into the app to register.
As climate impacts intensify, many economies face a “double cost crunch”: the simultaneous economic pressure from climate damages and the low-carbon transition. When layered onto existing fiscal and structural pressures, this dynamic can strain state capacity and heighten risks for security and geopolitical stability.
This breakout session draws on the GeoClimRisk (The Geopolitics of Climate Risks) project, which examines how climate change, its economic impacts, and geopolitical dynamics interact to shape emerging security risks. Building on modelling insights on the “double cost crunch” and the research carried out over the duration of the project, the session explores key challenges at the climate–security nexus.
A short scientific input will be followed by perspectives from representatives of the three partner countries Nigeria, Indonesia and India, a reflection of the findings through a geopolitical lens and an interactive discussion with all participants. The session concludes with a set of jointly developed key takeaways.
GeoClimRisk is implemented by the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH through the Climate Diplomacy Action Programme (CDAP) on behalf of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the federal government of Germany.
Speakers:
- Dr. Nico Bauer, Senior Scientist, Working Group Leader, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Germany
- Prof Nnaemeka Andegbe Chukwuone, Director, Resource and Environmental Policy Research Center, Environment for Development (REPRC-EfD) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Nigeria
- Putra Maswan, Finance and Economic Analyst, Institute for Essential Services Reform (IESR) Indonesia
- Utkarsh Patel, Fellow, Centre for Social and Economic Progress (CSEP), India
- Dr. Kira Vinke, Co-Director & Head of the Center for Climate and Foreign Policy, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Germany
Moderated by Florian Postel, Advisor, German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ)
Return to the BCSC 2026 Agenda.