Last week, world leaders and defence professionals have met at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington D.C., where they discussed issues such as the war in Ukraine, the Eastern flank, deterrence and innovation. Here is an overview of all the news, events and publications related to climate security that were linked to the Summit.
The summit has been the occasion for the presentation of the Secretary General's annual Climate Change and Security Impact Assessment report. The report is part of NATO's Action Plan on Climate Change and Security and responds to the organization's goal to raise awareness and understanding of the impact of climate change on the security of the Allied states. Building on previous editions, it examines the impact of climate change on each of NATO’s operating domains – sea, land, air, space and cyber – as well as on NATO’s missions and operations, and resilience and civil preparedness. For the first time, the assessment also includes an analysis of climate change impacts on NATO’s potential adversaries and strategic competitors, and addresses the climate impact of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Read the full assessment report through the link here.
The International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS) organized a morning discussion on the side of the summit to present its annual "World Climate and Security Report". This year's iteration focuses on innovation opportunities for NATO militaries to support the clean energy transition and emissions reductions. Read more about the report and the PSI chapter through the link here.
The NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE) completed its accreditation process at the NATO Summit, and co-hosted a "NATO in a Climate-Changed World" event with the Embassy of Canada in Washington D.C., and the governments of Germany and the United States. This event highlighted the critical impact of climate change on NATO’s security and the urgent need for awareness, adaptation, and mitigation. For more information about the CCASCOE, read a previous PSI news item through the link here.
The work of these organizations showcases the growing commitment within NATO towards including climate considerations in its strategy. This is also testified by the presence of climate change as a topic in the Summit Declaration: paragraph 34 stresses the importance of adaptability to climate impacts and supporting the energy transition. Read the full summit declaration through the link here.
The impact of the climate crisis on security also featured as topic for discussion during several events that were organized both during the summit and the NATO Public Forum of 10-11 July. One of these was hosted by the German Marshall Fund of the United States, that organized a panel on "NATO Leadership on Climate and Energy Security". Another event which included environmental considerations was organized by the Wilson Center at the end of the summit, to discuss its main takeaways with experts from the security field.
Use the following links to learn more about the events and publications described above: NATO Climate Change and Security Assessment Report, IMCCS Report, NATO Climate Change and Security Center of Excellence (CCASCOE), Washington Summit Declaration, NATO Summit, NATO Public Forum, Wilson Center event.