Integrating Development, Environment and Security - The IDEAS action programme

The IDEAS programme brings together a unique multidisciplinary group of more than 300 experts and organisations from around the world - each with their own extensive networks – all actively engaged in interdependent solutions to the interdependent issues of development, environment and security. Together we especially work to make meaningful contributions in actions on climate change and international, regional, national, human and environmental security.

The IDEAS programme involves the coordination and further development of five “communities of practice”:

Brussels Dialogue on Climate Diplomacy (BDCD)

The BDCD is an informal network for the exchange of information and  promotion of cooperation among 50+ European institutions, international organisations, think tanks and NGOs active in the nexus between climate change and international, national, human and environmental security. Since the start in 2016, there have been 17 regular meetings of the network and three international conferences co-organised by EDRC and other BDCD partners. > LEARN MORE

Climate and Security Action through Civil-Military Cooperation in Climate-Related Emergencies (Project CASA) 

Project CASA studies the extent to which NATO and selected non-NATO countries have engaged their national militaries in responding to climate-related emergencies. It examines trends in these responses over time, the degree to which national militaries have the resources and mechanisms needed to prepare for and respond to these emergencies, and the consequences for force composition and readiness from participation in civil protection operations. The project does so through an interdisciplinary network of experts who are working to collect, analyse, and publish data on relevant military activities and civil-military cooperation.

National militaries increasingly play a key role in areas struck by climate-related emergencies, working alongside civilian responders and often facing calls for greater involvement when civilian capacity is strained. As the frequency and severity of climate-related hazards continue to increase, more information is needed to assess current practices and potential future directions of civil-military cooperation in climate-related emergencies. > LEARN MORE

North-Atlantic Civil-Society Working-Group on Environment and Security (NCWES)

The NCWES was set up in response to the opportunity for civil society organisations to contributeinput in the NATO 2030 process. In 2021 the EDRC invited the non-governmental organisations participating in the BDCD and other NGOs, think tanks and individual experts to join the informal NCWES to exchange ideas and produce the report entitled: “Sustainable Peace & Security in a Changing Climate: Recommendations for NATO 2030”. The group consists of over 50 representatives of 25 organisations and 20 other individual experts on climate, development, environment, and security issues.

The report prepared by 30 writers and contributors contains 116 policy options and practical recommendations for consideration in the NATO 2030 process which can help strengthen NATO in a time of new environmental-related challenges in the interest of promoting sustainable peace and security for all.  > LEARN MORE

Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change (GMACCC)

Since its founding EDRC’s work has included attention to climate change including in our co-founding in 2002 of the Institute for Environmental Security (IES) and in our coordinating of the Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change.

GMACCC is an international network of 40 individual members who are serving and retired military officers along with other security professionals and 9 partner organisations, committed to highlighting the potential security implications of a changing climate and advocating action, including by the military, to minimise the risks. Founded in 2009 the Council has organised several events on climate change and international security and Council members have been guest speakers at many international conferences around the world. GMACCC has also (co-) published a series of papers on the security threats of a changing climate including papers focused on specific regions such as Africa and South Asia. > LEARN MORE

Transatlantic Responses to 21st Century Environmental Challenges (TREC)

Through the TREC pilot project - involving 50+ experts from Europe and North America - we are working toward the establishment of a new Transatlantic Environment Forum (TEF) with the vision that through new ways of learning from each other, of pooling our knowledge and creating new innovative dialogues between environmental experts and policy makers we can increase the effectiveness of our separate - and also common - efforts. > LEARN MORE