A new outlook on the climate and security nexus: Addressing the impact of climate change and environmental degradation on peace, security and defence

Summary:

Joint Communication adopted by the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) on 28 June 2023, laying out an approach to addressing the impact of climate change and environmental degradation in the fields of peace, security, and defence.

Further information:

Climate change and environmental degradation pose risks to international peace and security. Extreme weather events, rising temperatures and sea levels, desertification, water scarcity, threats to biodiversity, environmental pollution and contamination and loss of livelihoods threaten the health and well-being of humanity, and can create the potential for greater migratory movements and displacement, pandemics, social unrest, instability and insecurity.

The European Union (EU) linked climate change to crisis management in 2020. However, the need to include the impact of environmental degradation in the debate as well as existing realities and future projections regarding the scale of climate change and the impact of environmental degradation, in the context of intensifying strategic competition and complex security threats, require a new outlook on the climate and security nexus. Defining and implementing a new outlook on the climate and security nexus has been deemed essential, in line with objectives set out in the external dimension of the European Green Deal and the Strategic Compass on Security and Defence.

This Joint Communication establishes a framework and puts forward measures in line with the EU's Integrated Approach to External Conflicts and Crises with the aim to:

• strengthen climate and environment informed planning, decision-making and implementation;
• operationalise the climate and security nexus in EU external action from policy to implementation;
• enhance climate adaptation and mitigation measures for the development of Member States' civilian and military capabilities, and related infrastructure;
• reinforce international partnerships and the EU's work within multilateral fora.

It was published by the European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) on 28 June 2023, in response to a set of conclusions adopted by the Council of the European Union in March 2023 as regards climate and energy diplomacy.

Official

NATO: News, 21/06/2023: NATO Secretary General: our armed forces must be both green and strong https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_216227.htm

European Commission: Press Release, 18/06/2023: EU proposes comprehensive new outlook on threats of climate change and environmental degradation on peace, security and defence https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_3492

European Commission: Questions and Answers on a new outlook on the climate and security nexus (28 June 2023) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_23_3525

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News

Bloomberg, 26/06/2023: EU Looks Into Blocking Out the Sun as Climate Efforts Falter https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-06-26/eu-looks-into-blocking-out-the-sun-as-climate-efforts-falter

Reuters, 28/06/2023: EU calls for global talks on climate geoengineering risks https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/eu-calls-global-talks-climate-geoengineering-risks-2023-06-28/

Euronews, 28/06/2023: European Commission calls for international discussions on risks of climate engineering https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2023/06/28/european-commission-calls-for-international-discussions-on-risks-of-climate-engineering

Reuters, 26/06/2023: EU warns of rising climate-fuelled conflict, risks of geoengineering https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/eu-warns-rising-climate-fuelled-conflict-risks-geoengineering-draft-2023-06-26/

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Commentary and Analysis

Climate Home News, 12/06/2023: The Overshoot Commission is talking about solar geoengineering. Not everyone thinks it should https://www.climatechangenews.com/2023/06/12/overshoot-commission-solar-radiation-management/

German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF): Events, 21/06/2023: A Transatlantic Conversation: Climate and Security - The New Nexus https://www.gmfus.org/event/transatlantic-conversation-climate-and-security-new-nexus

Deutsche Welle, 24/07/2023: Solar geoengineering — climate-solution or Pandora's box? https://p.dw.com/p/4Tw7D

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