As we have previously covered, militaries are both affected by climate change and contribute to it. While decarbonization increasingly receives military’s attention, other climate-related crucial policies, such as the European Green Deal, still largely omit the sector. In a recent paper published in the Defence Forces Review 2021, Dr. Andy Scollick addresses the implications of climate change for the Irish Defence Forces. He outlines a changed operational environment, current emissions and climate action, benefits of adaptation and mitigation, EU policies, and relevant practices and technologies. The paper concludes with a number of recommendations for a strategic approach to adress climate change and security.
Scollick clearly states that “climate change is a matter of national, international and human security”.
Climate change implies a changed operational environment for militaries. The effects, which include extreme weather events, higher temperatures, and water shortages that alter conditions for operations at home and abroad, require adjustments of capabilities and capacities. Defence forces have to build resilience to climate change as well as the ability to react to climate change-induced or -exacerbated risk and disaster.
“The impacts of climate change will fundamentally affect the ways in which the Defence Forces plan, organise, train, employ and sustain the military means to advance state policy and achieve strategic, operational and tactical objectives.”
While the Irish Defence Forces’ energy consumption decreased by 20.8 percent since 2009, its carbon footprint is still substantial, presenting a significant contribution to overall national GHG emissions. In line with its commitment to a climate-neutral EU in 2050, Ireland has to focus on climate solutions, which also includes the Defence Forces.
The Defence Forces are already contributing to climate solutions by installing photovoltaic systems and acquiring electric powered vehicles. There is an array of benefits of a military green transition, including cost savings as well as enhanced autonomy, agility and range of forces due to increased energy efficiency and resilience. The EU’s “Climate Change and Defence Roadmap” from November 2020 provides a framework to guide this transition primarily on the supranational, but also on the national level.
The paper further outlines military practices and emerging technologies that are relevant for climate action in the defence sector, including fuels for aviation and naval vessels, which are especially energy intensive. Renewable energy sources, along with smart camps, carbon-efficient built estate and stewardship of natural estate have the potential to lower emissions. Designing and implementing solutions also requires specific assessment and planning tools, as well as networking across sectors.
Scollick makes a number of recommendations to push this agenda forward. In order to deal with overlapping climate change impacts, this includes preparing the Defence Forces to perform multiple, concurrent and complex response operations, which requires enhanced capabilities and coordination with other security sector bodies. The Defence Forces should also focus on interoperability with other European militaries regarding climate change and security, as well as working in partnership to share expertise, build joint capabilities and train together.
“Ireland has an opportunity to become a leader, demonstrating actions and solutions to achieve Net Zero”
The Defence Forces can play a major role in advancing the energy transition, for example by investing in alternative fuels, or through leveraging their unique supply chain network.
The paper concludes by emphasizing the importance of the Irish Defence Forces’ preparedness for dealing with climate change impacts and meeting their obligation to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. Guided by an emerging EU framework for addressing climate change-induced security risks, concrete action to build military capacity and contribute to climate solutions is necessary.
Read the full paper first published in February 2022 in the Defence Forces Review 2021 by the Irish Defence Forces.
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