GMACCC Members Collaborate with other Climate and Security Experts in Recommendations to NATO ahead of 2021 Summit

Brussels, 30 April 2021

Nine GMACCC members are among the 30 co-authors of the report on “Sustainable Peace & Security in a Changing Climate: Recommendations for NATO 2030” which was submitted today to the NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, as part of the NATO 2030 process - a forward-looking reflection to strengthen NATO's political dimension. The report was prepared by the North-Atlantic Civil-Society Working-Group on Environment and Security (NCWES) – an initiative of the Brussels Dialogue on Climate Diplomacy (BDCD), in which GMACCC is a participating organisation.

 Since June 2020 when the NATO 2030 initiative was launched, NATO has been organising a series of thematic events to engage more in-depth with civil society, advocacy, and expert groups. These events and related activities have resulted in a wide range of contributions from Allied nations, experts, public and private stakeholders, and young leaders focused on the topics of climate and security, human security, economic security, and democracy in the lead up to the NATO Summit of Allied leaders on 14 June 2021.

 The NCWES final report released today contains 116 policy options and practical recommendations concerning climate change and security and other related environment and security issues. With GMACCC Secretary General, Jamie Shea, providing the Foreword to the report, other GMACCC members were especially involved in chapters of the report devoted to Reconceptualizing Risks and Security; Responding to disasters; Environmental protection, intelligence, and Remediation; West Africa and Macaronesia, The Arctic, Education and Training; Commitment to Environmental Standards and Audits; and Smart Energy.

Our members especially hope the report will be useful as NATO works to create its action plan in follow up to the NATO policy document on climate change and security adopted by NATO foreign ministers in March.