RESILIENT DEFENCE: CLIMATE-SMART INVESTMENTS ON THE ROAD TO 5%
October 15–16, 2026
About the Montréal Climate Security Summit
The Montréal Climate Security Summit is an annual international event co-organized by the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) Institute and the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE). It is the leading forum for the global climate, defence and security community, bringing together defence industry stakeholders —from prime contractors to start-ups—military leaders, defence policymakers, scientific experts, international organizations, and civil society representatives. At the Summit, experts forge new relationships and nurture established ones, and ideas emerge and develop into joint projects that extend beyond the event itself.
Every year, the conversation evolves to address the most pressing issues, drawing on this rich community of practice to share lessons learned, foster innovation, and seize opportunities for armed forces and defence institutions to adapt to the impacts of climate change while reducing their own environmental footprint.
This fifth edition of the Summit, Resilient Defence: Climate-Smart Investments on the Road to 5%, will take place on October 15-16, 2026, in Montréal, Canada. It will convene civil and military decision-makers and senior representatives from governments and NATO—including those setting standards and requirements for historic new investments in defence— as well as international organizations, civil society, and industry. Together, they will examine how strengthening the ability of armed forces to operate under changing climate conditions can enhance operational readiness, reinforce collective energy security, reduce emissions, and support a strong defence industrial base. Because most of the military capabilities procured today will be operating for the next 30 to 50 years, it is essential that procurement decisions be informed by climate data and that industry—supported by governments—be empowered to develop competitive, resilient, and lower-emission solutions to growing climate and energy challenges.
The Montréal Climate Security Summit is supported by the Department of National Defence’s Mobilizing Insights in Defence and Security (MINDS) program.
Key Themes
Through plenary panels, workshops, roundtables, and wargames, the Summit will explore the following themes:
- Climate-Resilience Metrics and Standards for Defence Procurement
- Financing and Costing Climate-Smart Defence
- Climate Intelligence in Defence Planning
- Defence Industrial Strategies and Innovation Ecosystems
- Critical Minerals and Clean Energy Supply Chains
- Climate-Resilient Infrastructure, Bases, and Next-Generation Technologies
- Health, Resilience, and Readiness of Military Personnel in Extreme Environments
- Operational Energy and Mission Resilience
- Public-Private and Community Partnerships, Dual-Use Technology, and Co-Development of Solutions for Societal Resilience
Registration Process
The Montréal Climate Security Summit is by invitation only. If you would like to be considered for participation, we invite you to complete the expression of interest form. While we appreciate all interest in the event, capacity is limited, and only selected participants will be contacted.
Become a Sponsor or an Exhibitor
As a sponsor or exhibition partner, you will gain access to the decision-makers and thought leaders crafting and implementing defence strategies and policies, and steering the procurement of platforms and equipment for NATO armed forces. Previous editions have convened ministers, senior military officers, ambassadors, scientific leaders, and high-level representatives from government, the EU, NATO, the UN, and industry across NATO and beyond. This uniquely high-value audience creates a rare environment in which strategic vision, operational experience, and industrial capability converge around shared objectives.
By partnering with the Montréal Climate Security Summit, you will have the opportunity to:
- Promote your organization’s assets, services, and technologies that support climate change adaptation and mitigation in the military.
- Engage with a high-level network of cross-sectoral stakeholders shaping emerging climate security priorities and solutions.
- Position your organization as an essential contributor to the defence industrial capabilities of Canada and NATO Allies.
To discuss sponsorship or exhibition opportunities and how your organization can participate in the Summit, please contact Jennifer Giguere, Director of Operations and Strategic Relations, at jennifer@cdainstitute.ca.
Agenda
We are currently developing the agenda and look forward to sharing it soon.
About the Organizers
The Montréal Climate Security Summit has been co-hosted by the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA) Institute and the NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE) since 2024. The first two editions were led by the CDA Institute. With the establishment of the CCASCOE in Montréal in 2023, the two organizations have joined forces to create a landmark venue for the global climate, defence, and security community.
The CDA Institute is Canada’s premier defence and security think tank, established in 1987 by the Conference of Defence Associations (CDA), founded in 1932. The CDA brings together 45 member associations representing over 400,000 active and retired members of the Canadian Armed Forces, as well as Canadians with close ties to national defence and security. As the first dedicated programme of its kind in a Canadian defence think tank, the CDA Institute’s Climate Security Programme (CSP) positions the Institute at the forefront of efforts to understand and address the intersections between climate change and Canadian security and defence. The CSP aims to inform the national debate on climate security; advance interdisciplinary approaches by strengthening the Canadian climate-security community of practitioners, scholars, policymakers and industry stakeholders; and support the development of practical solutions to mitigate and adapt to the emerging defence and security challenges shaped by climate change
The NATO Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE), established in Montréal, Canada, in 2023, is one of the 30 Centres of Excellence accredited to NATO. It received its accreditation to NATO in May 2024. Twelve NATO member countries contribute to the Centre as Sponsoring Nations: Canada (Framework Nation), Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Norway, Romania, Türkiye and the United Kingdom. CCASCOE’s efforts support the implementation of the NATO Climate Change and Security Action Plan and contribute to NATO’s overall military readiness, deterrence and defence posture. To achieve its objectives, CCASCOE’s mission is based on four pillars: Increasing Allied awareness of the security implications of climate change; Adapting to the impacts of climate change across NATO and beyond; Mitigating NATO’s impact on climate change while preserving and strengthening our military effectiveness and interoperability; and conducting outreach and strengthening cooperation with a wide range of stakeholders.
