NATO’s Shocking Climate Security Plan: How They Aim to Surpass EU Targets by 2030!

Understanding NATO’s Climate Commitment

During the recent NATO Summit in Washington, the Alliance, led by the United States, committed to becoming the foremost international organization in climate security. This pledge arises from the increasing realization that climate change significantly impacts NATO’s defense capabilities. From wildfires interrupting training to extreme heat disabling equipment, the threats are manifold.

Our ongoing project aims to explore NATO’s climate adaptation efforts. We have conducted interviews with 63 officials from 16 member states, funded by the University of California Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. These insights are crucial to understanding how NATO is adapting to climate security challenges.

Several themes have emerged from our interviews. Although most officials recognize the importance of climate threats, many see them as long-term issues. Some officials even view climate concerns as irrelevant to NATO’s core activities, highlighting a disparity in prioritizing climate security.

The war in Ukraine has further complicated NATO’s climate agenda. Many officials indicated a shift in focus towards energy security, fearing that emphasizing climate security could undermine operational effectiveness. Concerns about soldiers’ safety in extreme heat and the impact of wildfires on training are frequently mentioned.

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NATO’s Strides in Climate Adaptation

Historically, NATO has lagged behind other organizations like the EU in climate adaptation. The EU set greenhouse emissions targets as early as 1998, while NATO only established its first targets in 2022. Despite this, NATO aims to reduce greenhouse gases by 45% by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, showing its ambitious goals.

In June 2021, NATO adopted a comprehensive climate change and security action plan, making four key promises: increasing awareness, adapting across ten areas, contributing to mitigation, and strengthening outreach. This high-level agreement marks a significant step forward, given the diverse political views within NATO.

NATO has since opened the Climate Change and Security Centre of Excellence (CCASCOE), primarily funded by Canada. The center has issued best practices and conducted annual assessments to highlight the impact of climate change on NATO’s assets and operations. Engagements with think tanks and experts further bolster NATO’s climate knowledge.

Despite these efforts, the transition from Jens Stoltenberg to Mark Rutte raises questions about the sustainability of NATO’s climate agenda. Rutte, with his experience in emissions reduction as Dutch prime minister, offers hope for continued progress in climate adaptation.

Key Areas for NATO’s Climate Leadership

To achieve its climate leadership goals, NATO must focus on five critical areas:

• Leadership: Establish a high-level climate security position to advise the secretary general and increase awareness across the Alliance.
• Training: Expand climate security training and integrate it into existing courses, utilizing resources like CCASCOE and other NATO training centers.
• Climate Advisers: Hire climate advisers across NATO’s command structures to ensure climate considerations are integrated into planning and operations.

Incorporating climate-related scenarios in exercises and war games can help NATO forces understand the impact of changing environments on their activities. Additionally, operational plans should include annexes addressing potential climate disasters to ensure troops are prepared.

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NATO is moving forward with climate adaptation efforts, despite various threats outlined in its Strategic Concept. Allied officials express enthusiasm about the work of CCASCOE, emphasizing the need to integrate its efforts throughout NATO. Climate security must be elevated on NATO’s agendas, avoiding siloed approaches that have hindered past initiatives.

Achieving Climate Security

For NATO to lead in climate security, several strategies must be implemented. Establishing a dedicated high-level position for climate security can ensure the issue receives the attention it deserves. This role would involve advising the secretary general and increasing awareness across the Alliance. Collaboration with the Human Security Unit is also vital.

Expanding climate security training is essential. NATO should create specialized courses and incorporate climate topics into existing programs. Institutions like the NATO School Oberammergau and the Military Engineering Centre of Excellence can play a pivotal role in this training expansion.

Hiring climate advisers across NATO’s structure is another crucial step. These advisers would integrate climate considerations into defense planning and operational effectiveness. Ensuring climate change is part of discussions at the Defense Policy and Planning Committee would further reinforce its importance.

Incorporating climate scenarios in exercises and simulations will help military leaders and forces understand how climate impacts their missions. Additionally, operational plans should include climate-related annexes to prepare troops for environmental disasters.

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