Climate Change & Security Course, Bulgaria – April 2025

During 1 - 4 April, 2025, the European Security and Defence College, together with the NATO - accredited Crisis Management and Disaster Response Center of Excellence (CMDR COE) and the Diplomatic Institute of Bulgaria conducted a 4-day training on “Climate Change & Security” in Sofia, Bulgaria. 

This course is one of the top-level activities from the ESDC’s configuration on Climate Change, Environment, Security and Defence (CCESD), equipping training participants with knowledge and skills that help them integrate and address climate security considerations within the CSDP context and beyond. By strengthening climate literacy and awareness, the CCESD directly contributes to implementing the EU’s Joint Communication on the Climate Security Nexus.

Together with our esteemed Course Director, LTC Margarita Kumanova renowned Bulgarian and international trainers offered valuable insights into:

• the complex relationship between climate change, environmental degradation and exploitation, and security, including how these factors potentially provide opportunities for strengthening international, regional or local peace and security,
• the relevance of a comprehensive climate and security approach (adaptation and mitigation) for a sustainable European security and defence, including CFSP/CSDP,
• evidence-based analysis and foresight to support climate and environment informed planning, decision-making and implementation (monitoring and evaluation), particularly within the CFSP/CSDP contexts.

Beyond our Course Director, speakers, and participants, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the entire CMDR COE team for the excellent cooperation and for generously hosting us at its premises in Sofia.

We are already looking forward to the next iteration of the Climate Change & Security Course to further develop a community of climate security experts! From now on, it will be called “The implications of Climate Change, Environmental Degradation and Exploitation on International Peace, Security, and Defence” (basic course).  

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