Ethical/Societal Dimension topic 3: Impact of climate change in third countries on Europe's security

Specific challenge:

Climate change in Third Countries is a real threat to security of the European Union. Extreme weather or other climate events which devastate lives, infrastructure, but also institutions and budgets can have disastrous consequences on European security, as climate-driven crises occurring outside the EU can have detrimental effects and direct or indirect security implications on the Union (e.g. climate-driven migration forcing large number of people to move from their homelands to another country – EU Member State; supply chain security; food security; reliance on imports of raw material etc.), including EU assets in third countries.

Therefore, adequate political, strategic and institutional responses should be found in order to enhance international and European cooperation on the detection assessment and monitoring of the security threats in Europe related to climate change in other regions of the world. European policy makers and analysts as well as national governments should tackle climate change as today's non-traditional security hazard.

The research aims at facilitating the adoption of a comprehensive approach, with a view to help minimising negative consequences of climate-driven crises.

Scope:

Proposals in this field may focus on the following issues:

• Taking into account past and on-going EU research, this topic should thoroughly examine the specific causes and the impact of climate-driven crises on European security.
• What kind of instruments, tools, and actions can be used alongside mitigation and adaptation policies to address the climate change security risks?
• Which could be the most efficient ways of developing contingency plans for the EU's response to the effects of climate-driven crises occurring outside the Union that have direct or indirect security implications on the Union?

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of between €1m and €2m would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected impact:

This action will help stakeholders to better understand consequences of climate change events in Third Countries and its security implications for the EU.

It will provide a framework for improving situation analysis and policy planning at the EU level.

It will thus lead to earlier and better reaction of climate induced security implications by public authorities in the EU.

The action is expected to proactively target the needs and requirements of users, such as European policy makers and analysts as well as national governments.

Type of action: Coordination and Support Actions