The security dimension of climate change takes centre stage during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) of this week. The Conference, which is considered the leading get together for political leaders, military and experts, will devote two sessions on the issue. Alongside, also several (closed) side-events are organized on the topic.
On 13 February an official side-event on the evening before the Conference called ‘Apocalypse Now? Climate and Security’ is used to launch the first edition of the World Climate Security Report by the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS). Key findings of the report are presented by IMCCS Chair, and Clingendael Senior Research Associate and General Tom Middendorp (ret.). Other speakers are European External Action Service Secretary-General Helga Schmid, former U.S. presidential candidate John Kerry and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon. The report is the first of its kind and provides global and regional assessments of the security risks of a changing climate, as well as some initial best practices and recommendations for addressing them. This event is open to the public and will start at 16:15 in the Festsaal. You can register here.
On 15 February (17.30-19.00) climate security will be the subject of a panel on the main stage. Here General Middendorp (ret.) will be accompanied by (deputy) Prime Ministers and Ministers of Defense. The panel is expected to cover the geopolitical impact of climate change, the effects of climate change on the military and defence and the areas where human security risks spill over into higher-order security risks. Monika Sie Dhian Ho, General Director of the Clingendael Institute will be participating in the Munich Security Conference as well.
The MSC will broadcast most of the debates through their website and the World Climate Security Report can be found on the IMCCS website.
Photo credit: BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt/Flickr