On Tuesday (11 July 2023), NATO released three major reports contributing to Allies’ increased understanding of the impact of climate change on NATO’s strategic environment, missions and operations, and the adaptation of their armed forces required to maintain operational effectiveness.
Report 1: NATO Climate Change and Security Impact Assessment
Climate change is a defining challenge of our time, with a profound impact on Allied security. At the 2021 Summit in Brussels, NATO Heads of State and Government (HOSG) endorsed a Climate Change and Security Action Plan (CCSAP) and agreed that NATO should aim to become the leading organization when it comes to understanding and adapting to the impact of climate change on security.
The following second edition of NATO’s Climate Change and Security Impact Assessment (CCSIA) responds to the demand for increased Allied awareness of the impact of climate change on security. It sets out the effects of various climatic hazards on NATO’s strategic environment. Furthermore, it includes regional assessments and specific case studies, outlining the consequences of climate change on NATO installations and assets, as well as on its missions and operations.
You can find the full report on NATO Climate Change and Security Impact Assessment here.
Report 2: NATO Climate Change and Security Action Plan
At the 2021 NATO Brussels Summit, Allied Heads of State and Government agreed a Climate Change and Security Action Plan with the aim of making NATO the leading international organisation when it comes to understanding and adapting to the impact of climate change on security. It provides a 360-degree approach, encompassing measures to increase Allied awareness of the impact of climate change on security. It outlines the need for clear adaptation and mitigation measures, and enhanced outreach, while ensuring a credible deterrence and defence posture.
This document contains examples of how individual Allies are putting these measures into practice. They include government initiatives, public-private partnerships, military and dualuse technologies, national and international efforts reflecting the different types of interventions required to meet the challenges posed by climate change. All examples were provided by Allied national authorities.
You can find the full report on NATO Climate Change and Security Action Plan: Compendium of Best Practices here.
Report 3: NATO Greenhouse Gases Emission Mapping and Analytical Methodology
The NATO Green House Gases (GHG) Emissions Mapping and Analytical Methodology provides guidelines and tools to calculate the greenhouse gas emissions from the various civilian and military structures (installations and assets) of the NATO Enterprise. The methodology applies only to the various NATO bodies and structures (as identified in this paper) and not to NATO Allies. However, it may be useful to Allies in facilitating their own national plans.
The data collected and analysed using this methodology serve as a basis for setting GHG reduction targets for the NATO Enterprise. This methodology will not set those targets and it will not forecast future emissions. Rather it will support the decision making process for NATO’s goal of assessing the feasibility of reaching net zero GHG emissions by 2050. The methodology has been independently validated with recommendations made for improvement; these are being taken into account as part of a continuous improvement cycle. Sensitive in-house data has not been included in this version.
You can find the full report on NATO Greenhouse Gases Emission Mapping and Analytical Methodology here.
This is an excerpt from their website and the executive summaries from each report. You can find the full reports by clicking on the links above.