As the number of climate initiatives – as well as climate events - grows, the call for action is becoming increasingly urgent. Garnering support from a range of groups with diverging views is challenging, however. Some initiatives meet with resistance or simply add fuel to an already heated debate. While it is important to provide scientifically accurate information, it is equally important to take account of values and identities and the role of the state.

This on-line Policy Dialogue - organized in cooperation with King Baudouin Foundation - looked at climate change as a national security issue and assessed the potential role of nationalism in mobilising public support for radical action, including possible tools, methods and practices for strengthening climate initiatives in order drew on Anatol Lieven’s recent book Climate Change and the Nation State.

 “The task must be to convince elites and people that climate change really is a threat and that protecting people in their countries also means helping countries elsewhere to mitigate and adapt or fear the consequences of inaction. Threat perception is a prime mover of human effort,” said Anatol Lieven. “I agree solidarity, but I fear that without using the language of sacrifice we will play into the hands of the opposing camp who will exaggerate the cost and use it as an argument against radical action,” he concluded.