In November 2024, the Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE) announced its first publication on climate change and security.
The Committee of Excellence was formed by 12 NATO allies following the NATO Summit in Brussels in 2021, CCASCOE was accredited as a NATO centre of Excellence in May 2024. Canada, the framework nation, was joined in this effort by the sponsoring nations Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Türkiye and the United Kingdom.
As an initiative, CCASCOE shows NATO’s recognition of climate change as a critical factor influencing global security dynamics. By prioritising climate related risks and fostering innovative strategies, CCASCOE positions NATO to effectively address the pressing challenges posed by climate change, enhancing the security of its member states and global partners.
Their first publication lays out their objectives regarding climate security, their role, key challenges and future plans. It identifies five main challenges for the future:
- Resource Scarcity and Water Conflicts
- Climate-Induced Migration
- Geopolitical Tensions
- The Risk of Inaction
- Impacts on Military Operations
In response to these challenges, CCASCOE seeks to achieve the following five objectives in the next decade:
- Innovate and advance climate security research and methodologies, ensuring that NATO remains at the forefront of understanding and addressing climate-related risks.
- Expand its network of partnerships with academic institutions, think tanks, and other stakeholders globally.
- Strengthen capacity building initiatives.
- Work closely with NATO leadership and member states to support policy-making processes related to climate security.
- Raise awareness of climate security issues within NATO and beyond, advocating for a holistic approach that considers both environmental and security dimensions.
As we look ahead, the importance of climate security will continue to grow, fundamentally shaping military and geopolitical strategies in the years to come. The implications of climate change will touch every aspect of security, from resource management to humanitarian response, requiring a comprehensive and integrated approach.
These are extracts from CCASCOE’s first publication, Novembre 2024. It details their objectives regarding climate security, their role, the key challenges the committee faces and future plans for climate security. The full publication can be accessed via the link here.