NATO 2030: Climate Challenge

Hear Dr. Bryan Wells, Chief Scientist of NATO, and David Angell, Permanent Representative – Canada, discuss the future challenges of NATO including climate change, security, and the prospects of an environmentally green defense.

About the Speakers

Dr. Bryan Wells was appointed Chief Scientist of NATO in July, 2019. In this role, he has three major responsibilities. First, he serves as Chair of the NATO Science and Technology Board (STB). In this context, he serves as the STB’s representative to the Secretary General and the NAC and is responsible to the STB for the effective coordination of NATO’s Science and Technology (S&T) program. Second, he serves as the senior scientific advisor to NATO leadership, ensuring that appropriate and timely S&T based advice is provided to NATO senior decision makers. Finally, he leads the Office of the Chief Scientist at NATO Headquarters. Prior to his appointment as Chief Scientist, Dr. Wells was the UK Ministry of Defense’s Head, of S&T Policy, Strategic Research and International Engagement. His responsibilities included the provision of strategic policy advice on the international and research aspects of the Ministry’s science and technology program. Additionally, he has recently completed a three-year term (2016-2018) as Chair of the European Defense Agency’s Research & Technology Steering Board. Dr. Wells joined the UK Ministry of Defense in 1988. He served as Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defense 1989-1992, and has held a range of other posts, including Deputy Director of NATO Policy 1997-1999, and Director of Counter-Proliferation and Arms Control 2002-2008. During 1999-2002 he was on secondment to the Lord Chancellor’s Department (now the Department of Justice) as Head of Administrative Justice. Dr. Wells was educated at St Catherine’s College, Oxford and Merton College Oxford. He graduated with a BA with honors in Chemistry and was awarded a Ph.D. in 1985. He conducted three years post-Doctorate research at Oxford University as a Junior Research Fellow at Merton College.

David Angell, Permanent Representative – Canada, served as assistant secretary to the Cabinet, Foreign and Defense Policy, at the Privy Council Office since 2016. He has also served as high commissioner to Kenya; as director general for International Organizations, Human Rights and Democracy, for International Organizations and for Africa; and as high commissioner to Nigeria. David was the G8 deputy personal representative and personal representative for Africa and, as such, a principal organizer of the 2002 and 2010 G8 summits at Kananaskis and Muskoka. He has served at the United Nations, including as alternate representative on the UN Security Council, before which he was the advisor to General John de Chastelain on the International Body on the decommissioning of arms and the Multi-Party Negotiations on Northern Ireland. David has also served at the embassy in Washington, D.C. He is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

About NATO 2030: Strengthening the Alliance to Address New Security Threats

Presented in partnership with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA).