Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
6
CLIMATE AND EUROPEAN DEFENCE
STRATEGIES
Moving from the general set of European Union (EU) commitments into more
speci
rst and vital consideration relates to how European
armed forces have approached climate security. In several areas, recent years have
witnessed a strikingly impressive uploading of climate concerns by European armed
forces. Far from dismissing climate change as a mushy non-traditional threat
unworthy of military attention, armed forces have on some measures assumed a
lead role relative to other ministries. However, the inverse fear of militaries
becoming overly dominant in climate security also appears unfounded
c policy domains, a
at least, so
far. The sceptical perspective is that European militaries now regurgitate the stan-
dard discourse on climate security in purely disingenuous fashion. Critics warn that
defence establishments have taken to frightening politicians that climate change is a
security threat simply as a means to attract more funds for their own beleaguered
bureaucracies.
1
There is some, but relatively limited, evidence that this is happen-
ing in Europe. Armed forces certainly seek to position themselves advantageously
within climate security debates. But they have eschewed an unambiguous lead role
in climate security relative to other ministries.
Militaries have so far engaged on a relatively narrow set of climate-related issues;
they are still attempting to extend their grip on the broader geopolitics of global
warming. Armed forces cannot be said to be leading climate security in the direc-
tion of undue militarisation. The most pertinent policy debate is the more subtle
one of how far climate change may require a recon
-
guring of defence to focus on
'
protecting the homeland
'
. Militaries have not yet devised comprehensive rules and
guidelines
for their own operational doctrines
that are capable of proactively
