The European Union Military Committee (EUMC) has stressed, in a document of 5 December obtained by EUROPE, the importance of taking into account climate issues in the field of defence, in particular in Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) operations and missions.
“The implications of climate change for the military are numerous”, the Military Committee said. It explained that it is and will “radically” change the environment in which forces operate, that the demand for military support for humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations will increase and that the armed forces must do their part in the collective effort to mitigate environmental impact.
The EUMC believes that climate change needs to be better integrated into strategic and operational planning for missions and operations, into the strategic foresight process and into exercise scenarios. There is also a need to strengthen military missions’ and operations’ ability to better integrate climate change considerations into their activities.
The Military Committee also stresses the importance of examining the possibility of accelerating the decarbonisation of military activities with the same level of operational ambition. Thus, while respecting the ‘mission first’ principle, it considers that EU Member States should be encouraged to make the best effort in terms of emissions reduction and to prepare the armed forces for the security and defence impact of climate change.
“Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing military capabilities should not be at odds”, the Military Committee said, adding that in light of the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine on energy production associated with the armed forces, there is a need to reassess the impact of the European ‘Green Deal’ targets on military activities.
The Military Committee also advises strengthening training and education in the field of climate change and defence, suggesting in particular the creation of “a dedicated office within the EU institutions, which could include a pool of environment/energy advisors able to support missions and operations on energy efficiency”.
Finally, the EUMC believes partnerships must be strengthened, in particular with NATO, which is also working on the consequences of climate change on defence. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)