NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization

Science for Peace and Security

Interaction with international organisations (ENVSEC)

Regular contact with relevant international organizations is maintained to ensure awareness and coordination of related activities. Joint cooperative activities may also be undertaken if this is in the common interest of NATO and the other organizations. International organizations include:

• the European Union ;
• the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE);
• the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA);
• the United Nations, especially the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)  

Furthermore, NATO is associated member of the Environment and Security (ENVSEC) Initiative, under which six international organizations (OSCE, UNDP, UNECE, UNEP, and the Regional Environmental Centre for Eastern Europe (REC)) are coordinating their environmental activities. The Initiative is focused on four vulnerable regions: the Balkans, Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia.

Under ENVSEC, the organizations facilitate assessments and consultation with regional stakeholders (governmental representatives and local authorities, experts and NGOs) with the aim of identifying and agreeing on environmental hot spots that threaten the security of the regions’ populations.  The results are regional maps and work plans highlighting the agreed hot spots that are endorsed by the governments concerned. This forms the basis for a comprehensive project development and fund raising by the organizations aiming to tackle the hot spots.  Regular ENVSEC meetings with international and local experts, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and governmental representatives, as well as the donor community ensure a coordinated approach.

NATO, as an associated member, contributes to the ENVSEC in capacity building and awareness raising by using its standard mechanisms for co-operative grants under the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme. NATO coordinates with ENVSEC its environmental activities that are aiming at enhancing the security in vulnerable regions and supports selected ENVSEC projects that are in line with NATO's geographical and thematic priorities.

ENVSEC publishes news and results of its local and international activities  through various media and on its Website.
More information is available at www.envsec.org