Climate Change: Preparing for the New Security Environment

09:00, 3 Sep 2008
RUSI, Whitehall, London, SW1A 2ET

Link to map: multimap

Options	Price
Normal rate	£220.00
Government rate Proof of eligibility must be presented	£150.00
Corporate rate	£185.00

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About the event:

 

The potential for climate change to reshape security landscapes is an issue which is rapidly rising on the global political agenda. The security community must prepare for these changes; however incorporating climate impacts into planning and operations and generating momentum for institutional change in the face of this new security environment remain significant challenges.

At present, policy responses to the security implications of climate change are embryonic and disjointed. Current understandings of the nature and timing of climate change impacts remain speculative, yet the magnitude of the potential consequences demand an urgent response. This dichotomy presents a pressing challenge for policy makers, the climate science community and security actors alike.

The RUSI climate change and security conference will provide a forum to discuss the linkages between climate change and security, with a special focus on responses and solutions for planners and policymakers.

Key issues:

• How will climate change reshape future approaches to defence and security?
• What policy initiatives are needed in order to deal comprehensively with climate-driven insecurity, and what steps need to be taken to make these changes? 
• How should security planning proceed within an environment of incomplete information – regarding the timing and severity of climatic changes, and the linkages between climate change and instability?
• How can the international community mitigate tensions around strategic assets, territorial claims and access to resources in the Arctic?
• What are the latest assessments from the climate science community, and how can climate modelling be integrated into social science to deliver sound projections of future vulnerabilities?
• How will climate change affect international relations, security policy, economic relationships and tensions within and between countries?

Confirmed Speakers:

• Helga Schmid, Director, Policy Unit, General Secretariat of the Council of the European Union  
• Derek Twigg, MP, Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Defence and Minister for Veterans
• Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
• Major General Richard Engel (Ret), Deputy National Intelligence Officer for Science and Technology, U.S. National Intelligence Council
• Nick Mabey, Director, E3G and author of RUSI’s ‘Delivering Climate Security’
• Professor Paul Berkman, Head, Arctic Ocean Geopolitics Programme, University of Cambridge
• Rob Varley, Government Services Director, UK Met Office
• Professor Neil Adger, Head, Adaptation Programme, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of East Anglia 
• Major Shannon Beebe, Senior Africa Analyst, US Department of Defense
• Chris Parry CBE, Consultant, Broadcaster and Writer on Strategic Themes

For enquiries regarding contributions and sponsorship of the event please contact Tom Mortimer at tomm@rusi.org or call +44 (0)20 7747 2627.  

For all other enquiries regarding the conference, please contact Rachel Bowden at rachelb@rusi.org or call +44 (0)20 7747 2648.  

www.rusi.org/events

 

Event manager: Rachel Bowden, +44(0)20 7747 2648