May 20-23, 2025: Participation of Co-Director Dr. Mariya Marinova at the Climate Security and Defence Course, Quebec, Canada

Dr. Mariya Marinova, Professor at the Royal Military College of Canada and Co-Director of Sub-project 3, participated at the Climate Security and Defence Course, Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean/ Royal Military College Saint-Jean, Quebec, Canada, the first official training delivered by the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE).

Military personnel, researchers and government representatives from NATO member states attended the event. Over four days, links between climate change, geopolitics, and defence were explored around sessions on the following topics: 1) Introduction to Climate Change; 2) The Scale and Scope of the Climate Change Problem; 3) Climate Change and Security; 4) Climate Change and Defence.

Dr. Marinova participated in the course as one of the instructors and gave presentation entitled “Energy Transition” as part of the learning activities on the Scale and Scope of the Climate Change Problem. In her presentation, she provided an overview of the project “Mitigation of Climate Change through Advanced Phytotechnology for Military Lands”. Stimulating discussions with participants around the work conducted within the project occurred after the presentation. Participants acknowledged how Miscanthus biomass can be used for decontamination of military lands, valorized into bio-based products and contribute to climate change mitigation.

Future collaborations were discussed with course participants and instructors. The Climate Security and Defence Course was a great opportunity to learn, engage and connect.