What: The International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS) is an umbrella “standing” network of senior military leaders across the globe that will meet regularly, produce an annual World Climate and Security Report, drive communications and policy in support of international actions on the security implications of a changing climate, and amplify existing climate and security networks.

Who: The Center for Climate and Security (CCS) serves as the IMCCS Secretariat, with a consortium including the Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael)/ the Planetary Security Initiative, the French Institute for International and Strategic Affairs (IRIS), and the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies (HCSS). The IMCCS is co-led by Secretary General, Sherri Goodman; and Chair, General Tom Middendorp, Chief of Defence of the Netherlands (Ret).

Why: Over the last decade, a growing number of militaries and national security communities have become increasingly concerned about a changing climate – including about the very real risks it poses to global stability, conflict and their own military missions – and have begun to organize themselves within their respective countries. The IMCCS will harness that energy into an international institution devoted to addressing the very real and urgent concerns militaries have about a changing climate.

What’s New: The IMCCS will represent a major scaling-up of the international climate and military community. Building from the successes of climate and security networks such as the Climate and Security Advisory Group, the Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change, the Planetary Security Initiative, the CCS Advisory Board, the Climate and Security Working Group-International, and the CNA Military Advisory Board, the IMCCS will represent the largest, most diverse, and most active international military network on climate change.

How: The core functions of the IMCCS will be three-fold:

• Analysis and Policy Development: The IMCCS will publish annual reports on the global security implications of climate change, including its implications for militaries. This will include an annual World Climate and Security Report.
• Communications: IMCCS members will communicate during and after key global events, including meetings of important regional and international security institutions.
• Coordination: The IMCCS will coordinate and super-charge existing climate and security networks to help maximize the effectiveness and reach of the climate-military community.

When: The IMCCS will hold a formal launch event in 2019 (date to be confirmed).

Participation: The IMCCS invites Members, Participants and Institutional Affiliates from across the globe. Participation is by invitation only, but if you wish to speak with someone about participating in the IMCCS, please send an email to info at imccs dot org.

• Members: Members of the IMCCS include former senior military, defense and national/international security professionals, as well as climate and security subject matter experts from the research community.
• Participants:  Participants of the IMCCS include active duty senior military and civilian defense leaders, national/ international security professionals, and climate security subject matter experts currently serving in governments or intergovernmental institutions.
• Institutional Affiliates: IMCCS Institutional Affiliates include think tanks and other non-governmental institutions that address defense and security affairs.

Contact: If you wish to speak with someone about the IMCCS, please send an email to info at imccs dot org.