The Defence and Climate Observatory, launched in December 2016, is tasked with studying climate-related security and defence issues.
The Observatory
The Observatory is coordinated by IRIS under the contract carried out on behalf of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces’ Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS). The Observatory’s multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary team is made up of researchers specialised in international relations, security, defence, migrations, energy, the economy, climatology and health. It is led by two scientific coordinators: Julia Tasse and François Gemenne.
The Observatory has initiated many collaborative endeavours with European partners (Netherlands, Luxembourg), international partners (Australia, United States, India), international NGOs, and national and international public bodies. These initiatives have enabled it to strengthen cooperation on climate issues and their security implications.
The Directorate General for International Relations and Strategy (DGRIS) contributes to the international policy coordinated by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and guides the Ministry of the Armed Forces’ international action.
IRIS is a public-interest association and one of the main French think-tanks specialised in geopolitical and strategic issues. It has a long history of working on security and climate issues. IRIS is also a founding member of the International Military Council on Climate & Security (IMCCS).
The Observatory’s work is organised into three research focuses: risk mapping, analysis, and anticipation.
