‘Climate Security: defence, development and diplomacy responses to the looming climate crisis’, will take place on Tuesday 2 July from 3-5pm (GMT) at the Dutch Ambassador’s Residence in London. This event can be followed via live stream
This event will focus on the evolving climate-security agenda and how Dutch and British defense, diplomacy and development actors can step up their activities in response to a climate crisis on the horizon. In recent years climate impacts have intensified, the science has become even more unsettling and public calls to action are growing ever louder. With people on the streets of London calling for the Government to declare a Climate Emergency, the security implications of climate change and the need to build resilience are increasingly moving from a topic of government backrooms to a topic of public debate.
The Netherlands has long been a champion of human and planetary security – including through its support of the Planetary Security Initiative. The UK Prime Minister has been tasked by the UN Secretary General to be a ‘champion’ for the climate resilience track of his Climate Summit in September 2019, alongside co-champion Egypt and partner countries the Netherlands, Malawi and Bangladesh. At present the climate resilience and climate-related security risk agendas have developed in parallel. However, approaches for institutionally integrating the climate security lens into broader climate, development and diplomatic action are emerging. As climate security and resilience moves from the realm of theory to practise, a greater alignment is necessary – both of development, defence and diplomacy activities and of European actors seeking to make a difference in a world of major powers. Through showcasing opportunities for increased UK-Dutch cooperation there is an opportunity to deepen synergies and deliver outcomes that are greater than the sum of their parts at the UNSG’s Climate Summit and beyond.
This public event will take place during London Climate Action Week. It provides an opportunity for the Netherlands and the UK to showcase their evolving responses to dealing with the looming climate crisis and the climate-related security risk it brings, for the UK, the Netherlands and the broader European Neighbourhood and Commonwealth. It will also look ahead and pose the question of what appropriate responses to a Climate Emergency look like going forward and what this means for actions taken by the UK, the Netherlands and European actors more broadly. Due to space constraints the event is invitation only with 60 seats available but will be made available to the public via live stream. We encourage journalists, students, and young professionals to reach out to request an invitation by sending an email to robert.magowan[at]e3g.org
Confirmed Speakers are:
- Nick Mabey (Moderator), CEO of E3G
- General Tom Middendorp (Ret.), Chairman of the International Military Council on Climate & Security, former Chief of Defence of the Netherlands & Senior Asociate Fellow at the Clingendael Institute
- Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti (Ret.), Honorary Professor and vice dean Engineering Sciences at University College London's Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy Department. Member of the advisory boards for the Carbon Disclosure Programme and the Carbon Tracker
- Dr. Amiera Sawas, Senior Research and Policy Specialist, Action Aid UK
- Dr. Louise van Schaik, Head of Unit EU in the World/ Sustainability at the Clingendael Institute
- Karen Arnon, Senior Policy Advisor, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Photocredit: Flickr/ Mariano Mantel