6th BDCD focuses on the Role of the Military in addressing Climate Change & Security

Brussels, 28 June 2018

The 6th meeting of the Brussels Dialogue on Climate Diplomacy (BDCD), organised by EDRC, was hosted by the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels on 28 June 2018.

The event included a presentation on Climate Change and the Military by Kim Vetting, Civilian Advisor, SHAPE J9 Civil Military Interaction, NATO, Richard Brewin, Project Officer, Energy & Environment Systems, European Defence Agency and Neil Wood, Desk Officer, EU Military Staff, European External Action Service.

The presentation consisted of 3 parts:
(a) Operational challenges presented by climate change: military-strategic level
(b) Adaptation strategies: What has and can be done to overcome the challenges?
(c) Alternative approaches (e.g. the Ecosystems approach) which can also help build the bridge between civilian-military organisations. Download the presentation here. Download the presentation here.

The meeting also included a briefing on the 22 June EEAS conference “Climate Change, Security and Peace: The Time for Action” and a round-table discussion on what can BDCD participating organisations do in terms of strategic planning and recommending new policies and practical actions.

The briefing on the outcomes of the EEAS conference was presented by Anne Bergenfelt, Senior Advisor, DG Climate Action, European Commission; Pascal Delisle, Adviser on Climate Change, Global Affairs, European External Action Service; and Neil Wood, Desk Officer, EU Military Staff, European External Action Service.

The discussion on what can BDCD participating organisations do in terms of strategic planning and recommending new policies and practical actions was moderated by Alexander Verbeek, Policy Director, EDRC  with initial remarks by Shiloh Fetzek, Senior Fellow for International Affairs, The Centre for Climate & Security; Louise van Schaik, Head of Sustainability Research, The Clingendael Institute; and Johanna Nyman, Policy Analyst, Climate and Environmental Governance, Institute for European Environmental Policy.