Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society

The NATO Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (NATO/CCMS) was a scientific research committee created in 1969 by the North Atlantic Council to study environmental problems of various nations, and the quality of life of their people.

US President Richard Nixon had suggested on NATOs twentieth anniversary to install the new body to work on the environment.

President Nixon suggested a few new initiatives for NATO. Aside from the military initiatives, Nixon decided to create a medium-range policy group that revolved around environmental problems common in developed nations. The work of the CCMS combined the knowledge of an entire international community to come to well researched conclusions.

The CCMS was founded on November 24, 1969, complying with the NATO goal of Article 2 which states "the Parties will promote conditions of stability and well-being". The CCMS exchanged information on environmental, technical and scientific experience within both military and civilian communities. The CCMS convened twice a year and would discuss policy as well as report on continuing projects and discuss new projects. The project has four main components: short-term project, pilot study, workshop seminar and research fellowship. The CCMS was created with the design to expound upon and add to conclusions made by the OECD, EEC, ECE, UNEP.

The CCMS did not force specific countries into conducting a pilot studies, instead encouraged self-motivation to begin their own study. This ensured that the country that gave initiative was ready to provide their expert opinion and was highly motivated. This pilot group could then take on co-pilots, as in other countries that shared the same expertise or enthusiasm could contribute to the discoveries. This compelled many countries to contribute to the overall progress of ideas and conclusions made by the CCMS. Other non-NATO nations were asked to be involved as well and share their opinion, this practice combined: willing participants, skeptical observers and determined detractors. The quality of work continued to grow as 2000 experts from 15 member countries and 20 non-member contributors were compiling with the CCMS. Consensus among nations stated that the CCMS offered more technological and professional points of view than any other organization

...
Wikipedia