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Celebrating NATO’s Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence

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August 2, 2024

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On July 9th, on the margins of the NATO summit in Washington, DC, the Embassy of Canada joined the United States and Germany to celebrate the official accreditation and activation of the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE), based in Montreal, Canada. Established in 2023 at the NATO Summit in Vilnius, CCASCOE aims to enhance military and civilian collaboration to address the security impacts of climate change. 

The Embassy event Looking Forward — NATO in a Climate Changed World featured keynote remarks by Prime Minister Trudeau and a panel discussion with senior government and military officials from NATO, Canada, the United States and other countries about the security implications of climate change and the strategic importance of climate resilience. 

Prime Minister Trudeau highlighted climate change as a defining challenge for Canada, NATO, Allies, and other partners, and emphasized CCASCOE’s role as an international hub for cutting-edge interdisciplinary climate change research.   

The event also included a plaque unveiling ceremony to celebrate NATO’s accreditation of CCASCOE, with representatives from the 12 sponsoring nations: Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Türkiye, and the UK.  

Addressing a global problem like climate change requires a global response; a global response which we’ve been coordinating in close partnership with our 31 fellow member states in NATO. Our government has been a strong advocate for ensuring that climate change is an integral part of NATO’s agenda and that together we act to make it a reality.

– Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau 

The fight against climate change is not just a local or national issue, but a complex global challenge that demands collective action. Climate change poses both direct and indirect threats to global human and national security, leading to extreme weather events, economic insecurity, political instability, and threats to public safety and infrastructure. Vulnerable and marginalized groups, including women, girls, and Indigenous peoples, are disproportionately affected. 

Climate change is reshaping the strategic landscape, challenging the resilience of military installations, and creating tougher operational conditions. Recognizing this global security threat, CCASCOE will help bolster the security of Canada, NATO Allies, partners, and the international community. 

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