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Security through Partnership Security, science and the environment Contents 1. Foreword 2. Origins and evolution of Partnership 3. Essential mechanisms 4. Security dialogue and cooperation 5. Map of NATO and Partner countries 6. Peace-support operations 7. Defence reform 8. Disaster-preparedness and response 9. Security, science and the environment 10 A true Euro-Atlantic security culture Editorial Note   Editorial Note Other Formats English PDF (~3900Kb) Printable version with colour illustrations Other format Two distinct NATO programmes bring together scientists and experts from NATO and Partner countries on a regular basis to work on problems of common concern. Collaboration is a tradition among scientists and a requirement for scientific progress. The networks created also fulfil a political goal of building understanding and confidence between communities from different cultures and traditions. The Security Through Science programme of the NATO Science Committee aims to contribute to security, stability and solidarity among countries by applying science to problem solving. It supports collaboration, networking and capacity-building among working scientists in NATO, Partner and Mediterranean Dialogue countries. The Security Through Science programme concentrates its support for collaboration on research topics related to defence against terrorism or countering other threats to security. Another objective is to promote the sharing and transfer of technology to help Partner countries address their particular priorities. The programme of the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) deals with problems of the environment and society by bringing together national agencies to collaborate on short and long-term studies in these areas. It provides a unique forum for sharing knowledge and experience on technical, scientific and policy aspects of social and environmental matters among NATO and Partner countries, in both the civilian and military sectors. A number of key security-related objectives guide its work. Applying science to security Defence against terrorism The fight against terrorism has become a key priority for Allies and Partners alike. NATO is supporting scientific research into developing effective methods to detect chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons or agents, and improving physical protection against them. Research is also being promoted into improved possibilities for the safe destruction of such weapons, for decontamination, and for medical responses including chemical and vaccine technologies. Workshops and seminars are being organised to bring together scientists to look at issues such as reducing the vulnerability of critical infrastructure (including energy, communications, transportation and life-support systems); protecting against eco-terrorism and cyber-terrorism; improving border security; combating illegal trafficking; and developing more effective means for explosives detection. Wider issues – such as understanding the roots of terrorism, the social and psychological consequences of terrorism, and how to strengthen the resilience of populations against the terrorist threat – are also being examined with a view to developing policy recommendations. Countering other threats to security While less obviously dangerous, other sources of potential threats to security and stability include the scarcity of non-renewable resources and environmental degradation – such as desertification, land erosion or pollution of common waterways – which can lead to regional or cross-border disputes. Solving such problems often requires not only scientific know-how but also multilateral action. To meet this need, NATO supports projects and studies that promote the application of scientific best practice and involve the key countries concerned. The world would also be a safer place if one were able to forecast natural disasters, mitigate their effects or better still prevent them. This is a key area of interest for many Partners. NATO has conducted a number of projects aimed at reducing the impact of major earthquakes in terms of loss of life, material damage, and economic and social disruption. Such projects look into ways of increasing the earthquake resistance of buildings, for example, or involve collecting data on the seismological and geological characteristics of a region to develop seismic hazard maps, which help urban planners decide what type of building can be built where. Projects aimed at developing more efficient early warning and flood management systems are also being promoted. The reliance of modern society on the provision of safe food or on secure and reliable information means that their availability must be assured. These are also key areas for further study in the effort to make society more secure. Environment and security The cross-border character of environmental issues has led the international community to take an active role in initiating environmental projects not only to further social and economic development, but also to promote security and stability. Such projects are a key focus under the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS) programme and an important part of the Security Through Science programme. A significant step towards promoting the link between environmental issues and security and stability was taken in 2002 with the launch of a joint Environment and Security (ENVSEC) initiative by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe , the United Nations Environment Programme and the United Nations Development Programme. The initiative focuses on vulnerable regions such as the Balkans, the Caucasus and Central Asia. As the Security Through Science and CCMS programmes are involved in promoting security through scientific and environmental cooperation with Partner countries in these regions, they are now associated with ENVSEC. Activities are coordinated, information shared and results disseminated to the relevant authorities in the regions, which will lead to a much greater impact of activities. Earthquake assistance Earthquakes pose a significant threat in highly populated areas of Central Asia. In a NATO-sponsored project, Turkish earthquake scientists are helping counterparts from Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic to establish risk maps for the capitals, Tashkent and Bishkek. These maps will serve as decision tools for urban planning and strengthening of existing buildings. Connecting people Scientists rely on access to information to keep up with the latest developments and research. However, not all scientific and academic communities have yet been able to benefit from the arrival of the information age or to exploit the potential of the internet. Moreover, the absence of a monopoly on information is often said to be a prerequisite for democracy and civil society to flourish. To help remedy this situation, NATO’s civil science programme has provided a number of research and educational institutions in Partner countries with the necessary networking infrastructure to access the internet. Metropolitan networks have been set up to improve internet access for academic communities in eastern regions of Russia and in Ukraine as well as national networks in Moldova, Romania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*. The largest and most ambitious NATO-sponsored project in this area is the Virtual Silk Highway project, which provides satellite-based internet access for the academic and scientific communities in the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. Virtual Silk Highway The Virtual Silk Highway project was launched in October 2001 (its name refers to the Great Silk Road which used to link Europe to the Far East, promoting the exchange of goods and of knowledge and ideas). The project provides internet access for the academic and scientific communities of eight Partner countries in the Southern Caucasus and Central Asia – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan – and was extended to Afghanistan in 2004. Cost-effective, state-of-the-art satellite technology now connects scientists and academics in the participating countries to the internet via a common satellite beam. The NATO grant has financed satellite bandwidth and the installation of ten satellite dishes. Other project sponsors are contributing in kind. With an investment of 3.5 million US dollars over four years, this is the largest project ever to have been sponsored by NATO’s civil science programme. *Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name

© NATO - OTAN 2005 -	NATO Public Diplomacy Division, 1110 Brussels, Belgium - E-mail: natodoc@hq.nato.int