Climate change affects us all, no matter where we live. It is particularly devastating for fragile countries and communities already facing conflict or humanitarian crises.
New and emerging threats
The rapid development of technologies such as artificial intelligence, the ever-increasing number of Internet users, advances in biotechnology and nanotechnology, and the rise in space exploration have been some of the world’s greatest achievements in recent decades. Technological advances have also contributed significantly to peace and security efforts. Satellite imagery now helps to monitor ceasefires and buffer zones. Communications platforms facilitate dialogues to prevent escalating hostilities.
New and emerging technologies, however, also present risks if used irresponsibly and unethically. Cyberattacks have become more prevalent, for example, and more countries are deploying artificial intelligence to develop autonomous weapons. The militarization of is a growing challenge.
These and other concerns are changing the landscape of peace and security. They add to existing threats, such as from and terrorism. Growing insecurities linked to and environmental degradation are compounding conflicts, affecting vulnerable communities already struggling with divisions, violence and displacement.
The United Nations and its Member States continuously develop means to protect people as new threats arise. These have included negotiating international norms and standards on , and adopting measures to counter terrorism. Ongoing efforts are strengthening agreement on the safe use of outer space and building resilience to climate change.
As with more traditional threats and conflicts, responding to new and emerging ones requires collective action. The United Nations actively collaborates with governments, tech companies, industry experts, the scientific community and many others - to ultimately build a stronger collective security machinery that is fit to address the challenges of the 21st century.
Today’s new threats to peace create new demands on us. The time to act is not when the divisions and fractures have engulfed us. The time to act is now.”
United Nations Secretary-General ()
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“The perils of weaponising digital technologies are growing by the year” the UN Secretary-General warns the Security Council about the evolving threats to peace and secutity in cyberspace.