18 February 2020
  • Planetary Security Initiative
  • climate change
  • climate security

Slándáil 2020: National Security Summit Ireland

Slándáil is the Irish language term for security. Its broader meaning encompasses concepts of safety, protection and future stability. This name reflects the importance of the issues that will be discussed and debated during the event. The event will take place on the 25 and 26 February.

The following themes will be addressed:
Slándáil:  Global Security Forum
Disc:        Defence, Intelligence & Security Conference
Ullmhú:    Emergency Preparedness, Response & Resilience Conference
Eólas:      Industry, Innovation & Research Symposium
Cibear:    Strategic Cybersecurity Conference


A climate security session will be held on the 25 February morning.
Dr. Louise van Schaik (Clingendael & Planetary Security Initiative) will be a part of the session and will discuss what could be done to reduce security risks related to climate change and other environmental stresses. She will present findings of new research on the role of the military in climate-security. She will discuss how resource stress accelerated by climate change can act as underlying cause of conflict as it aggravates tensions among groups in society. In addition to climate change acting as threat multiplier recent research also points out that it can structurally undermine military capabilities, since the increase of extreme weather increases calls for military assistance at home and abroad. It also damages military assets and equipment. Diplomats and development experts could do more to integrate climate and natural resource solutions into conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts. Security experts could use insights into climate change in strategies they consider to promote peace and stability.

For more information about the conference, see
here

Photo credit: The National Guard/ Flickr