Course on Climate Change & Security

In October 2024, the ESDC Course on Climate Change & Security was delivered the third time in 2024, with 24 participants (12 civilian, 7 military, and 5 diplomatic) from EU institutions and Member States, as well as from International Organisations, including UN and NATO. Co-organised with “Adelphi” and the “Institut des hautes études de défense nationale” (IHEDN), this Brussels-based 3-day training focused on raising awareness about the impacts of climate and environmental degradation on peace, security, and defence.

Key topics covered during the course included an exploration of climate security, examining the link between climate change, environmental degradation, peace, security, and defence, and its significance for foreign policy. Participants also discussed approaches to integrating climate-related security risks, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected regions, with the Lake Chad Basin serving as a case study. The course further addressed the concept of climate resilience, highlighting how mitigation and adaptation efforts contribute to a sustainable and climate-resilient European security and defence framework, especially from an energy-defence perspective. Finally, discussions focused on the role of international organisations—such as the European Union, United Nations, and African Union—in mainstreaming climate security into their strategic policies and operations.

A big thank you to @Adelphi and @IHEDN for their valuable support in organising this course. The ESDC looks forward to continued collaboration on future editions and beyond.