This opinion article was written by GWSC Director Mike Gremillion.

In mid-October, I joined a distinguished group of security and resilience professionals brought together by the Ditchley Foundation at the magnificent Ditchley Park. This historic house has served as a retreat for royalty, a secret base for Winston Churchill during World War II, and the site of the signing of the Lend-Lease plan.  

The Foundation gathered leading experts from around the world to assess how changing climate is reshaping national security. We were charged with developing practical solutions that enable the international community to better understand and respond to human security implications. I had the privilege of chairing a working group that examined risks to water security, food systems, and broader geopolitical stability in collaboration with the following distinguished colleagues: Emma Howard Boyd CBE, Daniel Giles, Nick Greenstock, Nick BUTLER, Edward Stringer, Sophie Vipond, Theresa Löber, Ram Sri, and Dr Pauline Sophie Heinrichs.  

Our group was resolute that we need to discover the water and food security “golden thread” where we can educate and influence tomorrow’s leaders and decision makers. We also emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach to reduce uncertainty and provide a clearer understanding of the impacts. 

Throughout this experience, I made new friends that challenged me to think differently. One key takeaway I brought back to the Global Water Security Center (GWSC) is the reminder that a changing climate is fundamentally changing how people live their daily lives. I was taught growing up that I should strive to leave any organization a little bit better than what I found it. This is a commitment I intend to uphold, with the goal of helping build a world that is more resilient to environmental risk. 

I look forward to working with these colleagues and others to sustain peace, freedom, and order.