On 9 July 2024, the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE), in partnership with the Embassy of Canada in Washington, D.C., and in collaboration with the governments of Germany and the United States, co-hosted a high-level event titled “Looking Forward – NATO in a Climate-Changed World”. The event took place at the Embassy of Canada to the United States, ahead of the NATO Summit held in Washington on 10-11 July.
The side event celebrated the official accreditation of CCASCOE by NATO, granted on 28 May 2024, and served as a platform to highlight how climate change is increasingly shaping the Alliance’s security priorities.
Recognizing a Milestone in NATO’s Climate-Security Agenda
CCASCOE’s NATO accreditation marked a key step in advancing the Alliance’s response to climate-related security challenges. The Centre is supported by 12 Sponsoring Nations: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Türkiye, and the United Kingdom, which provide personnel, funding, and strategic guidance as part of its Steering Committee.
The 2024 NATO Summit, which marked the Alliance’s 75th anniversary, focused on evolving threats, including the impacts of climate change on deterrence, defence, and operational effectiveness. The event reflected NATO’s commitment—reinforced in its 2022 Strategic Concept and during the 2023 Vilnius Summit—to integrate climate change considerations across all core tasks.
Event Objectives and Highlights
The side event aimed to:
- Raise awareness among senior officials about the security impacts of climate change.
- Demonstrate how climate resilience can strengthen military readiness and effectiveness.
- Showcase NATO’s progress in embedding climate considerations into its broader strategic agenda.
Senior-Level Participation
The invitation-only event featured participation from high-ranking political, civilian, and military leaders. Confirmed speakers included:
- The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
- The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada
- The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of National Defence of Canada
- John Podesta, Senior Advisor to the U.S. President for International Climate
- General Wayne Eyre, Chief of Defence Staff, Canadian Armed Forces
- General Chris Badia, NATO Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
- General (ret.) Tom Middendorp, Chair of the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS)
The event concluded with a panel discussion on climate change’s long-term implications for NATO’s operations and posture. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was invited to deliver closing reflections, followed by a reception and media engagement.
Oskar Dap
Oskar Dap
