Why NATO sees climate change as a major threat?

June 26, 2021 08:08 PM AEST | By Team Kalkine Media
 Why NATO sees climate change as a major threat?
Image source: Drop of Light,Shutterstock

Climate change has wreaked havoc across the world with heatwaves, droughts, floods, and icy weather conditions, killing millions of lives in these catastrophic events. While the EU already has an overarching framework to address the issue, its military wing, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), is also stepping up to meet the collective goals of climate change.

Studies show carbon emissions is the single most significant factor contributing to global warming. Hence, countries have set global emission targets to curb greenhouse gases.

NATO first recognized the climate challenge in 1969, but its earliest strategic concept paper on the climate was floated in 2010. Four years later, it adopted the Green Defense Framework, a strategic vision to pave the transition from polluting fossil fuels to clean energy sources.

NATO was created after the world war ended in 1949. In 2006, it moved to strengthen the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) division by merging it with Challenges of the Modern Society (CCMS), which probed various social issues, including climate change. Currently, the climate issues are governed by its Environment Security and Environment Protection division.

Also Read: Climate Investments Must Triple By 2030 To Save Nature: UN

Source: Pixabay.

NATO’s climate initiatives gained considerable momentum after Jens Stoltenberg, who has been a deputy environment minister and prime minister of Norway in his 30-year political career, became its Secretary-General. Apparently, climate change is close to his heart.

In September 2020, while addressing a NATO gathering, he set a 2050 target to achieve net-zero emission for the organization. He urged the military alliance to prepare a comprehensive security roadmap covering 21st-century security needs and climate challenges.

Focus Areas

NATO’s primary objective is to reduce pollution from military activities, including phasing out polluting energy sources like hydrocarbons for running heavy war machinery and automobiles.

In a report on June 7, the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS) stated that defense is the single largest institutional consumer of hydrocarbons globally. It noted that because of the long life of military aircraft, warships, and vehicles, they had been locked in a hydrocarbon dependency for years.

The IMCCC said climate threats would affect the military worldwide because they would be called upon to handle climate-driven crises in the future. As such, NATO is trying to expand its alternative use in their activities, including running equipment and facilities.

Also Read: Biden's push for hydrogen fuel adds muscle to climate fight

Global Efforts       

More and more European governments are moving towards renewable energy sources to reduce carbon footprint. Sun, wind and tidal power, geothermal energy, and solar and lithium-ion batteries are increasingly being used for household and office purposes. The growing public awareness of the dangers of climate change is helping push the climate agenda forward.


Disclaimer

The content, including but not limited to any articles, news, quotes, information, data, text, reports, ratings, opinions, images, photos, graphics, graphs, charts, animations and video (Content) is a service of Kalkine Media Pty Ltd (Kalkine Media, we or us), ACN 629 651 672 and is available for personal and non-commercial use only. The principal purpose of the Content is to educate and inform. The Content does not contain or imply any recommendation or opinion intended to influence your financial decisions and must not be relied upon by you as such. Some of the Content on this website may be sponsored/non-sponsored, as applicable, but is NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold the stocks of the company(s) or engage in any investment activity under discussion. Kalkine Media is neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice through this platform. Users should make their own enquiries about any investments and Kalkine Media strongly suggests the users to seek advice from a financial adviser, stockbroker or other professional (including taxation and legal advice), as necessary. Kalkine Media hereby disclaims any and all the liabilities to any user for any direct, indirect, implied, punitive, special, incidental or other consequential damages arising from any use of the Content on this website, which is provided without warranties. The views expressed in the Content by the guests, if any, are their own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of Kalkine Media. Some of the images/music that may be used on this website are copyright to their respective owner(s). Kalkine Media does not claim ownership of any of the pictures displayed/music used on this website unless stated otherwise. The images/music that may be used on this website are taken from various sources on the internet, including paid subscriptions or are believed to be in public domain. We have used reasonable efforts to accredit the source wherever it was indicated as or found to be necessary.


AU_advertise

Advertise your brand on Kalkine Media

Sponsored Articles


Investing Ideas

Previous Next
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.