The security dimension of climate change takes centre stage during the Munich Security Conference of this week. The Conference, which is considered the leading get together for political leaders, military and experts, will devote two sessions on the issue. On 13 February an official side-event on the evening before the Conference is used to launch the first edition of the World Climate Security Report by the International Military Council on Climate & Security (IMCCS). The report is the first of its kind and provides global and regional assessments of the security risks of a changing climate, as well as some initial best practices and recommendations for addressing them. On 15 February a panel debate is organised on the main stage with (deputy) Prime Ministers and Ministers of Defense.

Both events are featuring former Chief of Defence of the Netherlands, General (ret) Tom Middendorp. He is the Chair of the IMCCS and Associate Senior Research Fellow at the Clingendael Institute. The topics he will talk about include the geopolitical impact of climate change, the impact of climate change on the military and defence and the areas where human security risks spill over into higher-order security risks. Monika Sie Dhian Ho, General-Director of the Clingendael Institute will be participating in the Munich Security Conference as well. 

Most of the debates will be broadcasted by the MSC through their website and the IMCCS report will be published on the PSI website after release.

Photo credit: BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt/Flickr