by Nannette Cazaubon, Paris
Climate change matters for our security, and therefore it matters to NATO”, Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said at the Dubai climate conference COP28 in December 2023. Participating in a high-level leaders’ event on climate security organised by the COP28 Presidency and the Munich Security Conference (MSC), he emphasised that “climate change creates crisis and crisis undermines the possibility for combating climate change”, adding that given the inextricable link between the two, climate change is at the core of NATO’s mission for pursuing peace and security for the Alliance.
The Secretary General also said that NATO is adapting its militaries, both to the changing climate and to reduce emissions. He added that NATO is harnessing technological innovation in green defence and integrating climate considerations into its military plans, exercises and capabilities.
NATO Action Plan: https://bit.ly/3V5qlQm
NATO and the climate change challenge
- In 1969, NATO first recognised environmental challenges by establishing the Committee on the Challenges of Modern Society (CCMS), which managed studies and fellowships focusing on issues like air and noise pollution, advanced health care and the disposal of hazardous waste.
- In 2006, NATO’s Science Committee merged with the CCMS to form the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme with the aim of developing initiatives on security challenges, including environmental security issues (water management and the prevention of natural catastrophes, and energy security).
- NATO’s Science and Technology Organization (STO) also promotes and conducts scientific research related to environmental issues.
- In 2021, NATO adopted a Climate Change and Security Action Plan to bring climate change considerations into NATO’s mainstream political and military agenda.
- NATO’s 2022 Strategic Concept highlights the profound impact of climate change on allied security. It states that NATO should become the leading international organisation when it comes to understanding and adapting to the impact of climate change on security.
- At the 2023 NATO Summit in Vilnius, allies welcomed the establishment of a NATO Centre of Excellence for Climate Change and Security in Montreal, Canada.