Last week, the International Military Council on Climate and Security (IMCCS) helped ensure climate risks were a key part of the conversation at the 75th NATO Summit in Washington, DC.
On 9 July, IMCCS Chair General Tom Middendorp (Ret) and IMCCS Secretary General Sherri Goodman joined the official launch of the new Climate Change and Security NATO Center of Excellence (CCASCOE). This new Center will provide a key hub for NATO allies and partners to share best practices and learn about tackling climate security risks. As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau noted in his opening remarks at the event, “Overall, climate change risks creating a less stable, less prosperous and less secure world. That is why we act.” Watch PM Trudeau’s remarks here.
On 10 July, IMCCS organized a breakfast discussion with US, NATO, and allied defense and security leaders featuring the release of its annual “World Climate and Security Report,” a global assessment of the security dimensions of a changing climate and effective means to address them. This year’s report focused on military innovation and the climate challenge, recommending NATO militaries focus on procurement practices to support the clean energy transition and emissions reductions. The event convened military, diplomatic, and private sector leaders to discuss the report’s findings and share best practices regarding the role of militaries in advancing clean energy research, development, and deployment.
Key Takeaways
Below is a summary of the key takeaways from the World Climate and Security Report discussion:
Innovation in Acquisition and Procurement
- To reduce their impact on carbon emissions and confront the climate challenge, defense organizations must broaden their conceptions of innovation to include their procurement policies, processes, and requirements. Defense research and development now represents a much smaller share of the global R&D sector. Therefore, it will primarily be commercial R&D that will help militaries reduce their operational footprint. The private sector has already developed some of these necessary technologies. The size and influence of military procurement budgets create an opportunity for acquisitions leaders to steer markets toward policy outcomes.
- Defense organizations should work to promote and leverage public-private partnerships. Military objectives are not incompatible with the sustainability goals of the civilian sectors. For example, the operational carbon footprint of the US Department of Defense is dominated by fuel use for aviation, but addressing fuel use is also a critical security concern as it is logistically complicated, expensive, and a target for adversaries. At the same time, some US airlines use more fuel than the US Air Force and are investing in their own research to enhance sustainability and improve efficiency. Thus, defense organizations can harness these synergies to support innovation that simultaneously prioritizes military missions and helps reduce emissions.
Collaboration with Allies and Partners
- NATO and its partners must coordinate their approaches to military innovation and the clean energy transition. These collective efforts will help strengthen the alliance’s effectiveness and enhance internal messaging within defense ministries and to domestic audiences.
- As NATO militaries adopt and integrate new technologies that support emissions reductions, standardization will be essential to ensure interoperability (i.e., the ability of different national militaries to cooperate effectively). Although there have been some measures to establish common standards, participants acknowledged that NATO forces still largely operate in silos. For instance, at a training exercise, certain allied forces found that their traditional diesel generators were incompatible with newer, hybrid generators.
- In large markets, like the battery market, individual militaries do not have much buying power. Standardization would enable the alliance to combine its buying power, increasing its ability to impact the private sector, send market signals, and catalyze commercial research.
Challenges and Vulnerabilities
- NATO defense organizations may face difficulties and constraints in implementing changes to their acquisition processes and driving innovation. Several participants noted that defense organizations are generally risk-averse. Armed forces often have immediate equipment needs, especially given increasing global instability, which makes them less likely to invest in unproven technologies.
- Organizational priorities, like keeping costs low, and the complexity and rigidity of government procurement policies, can further hinder investment. However, participants emphasized that without an initial protective market provided by defense departments, many next-generation technology firms will be unable to compete with foreign companies, particularly from China. The industry also lacks a robust structure to facilitate public-private conversations. Thus, changing the acquisition and procurement process will require a shift toward a “venture mindset,” and militaries should work to develop a stronger network of innovators and buyers.
- As part of the “geopolitics of blame” for the climate crisis, there are growing signs of countries placing blame on the militaries of the Global North. For example, Djibouti’s Sovereign Carbon Initiative, which requires emitters to pay a carbon contribution, includes foreign armed forces established in the country. This undercurrent of blame could make advancing policy and process changes more difficult.
Under Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s leadership, NATO has been at the forefront of the climate security mission for many years. The launch of the new Center of Excellence, combined with the release of the 3rd edition of the NATO Climate and Security Impact Report, demonstrates continued progress from the alliance on this critical threat. Meanwhile, the 2024 WCSR provides a detailed roadmap for NATO countries to navigate the transition to clean energy, leveraging military R&D, procurement and supply chains, and public/private partnerships. The official NATO communique notes, “Climate change is a defining challenge with a profound impact on our security.” IMCCS is proud to contribute to NATO’s work in this area and looks forward to partnering with the Climate Change and Security NATO Center of Excellence in the coming months.