A green European security and defense? – EURACTIV.com

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In this week’s version: COP26’s climate and safety, Tigray sanctions, and India’s hydrogen commitments.

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After years of denying the link between climate and security, this is the first time that the link between climate and security has been prominent in the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) talks.

There is no doubt that climate change — or, more precisely, its catastrophic effects caused by broken high temperature records one after another, floods, droughts, and other extreme weather conditions — is fueling violence and instability in some parts of the world. We can expect this trend to continue.

According to calculations by the Crisis Group, half of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries are also facing conflicts and crises today.

“Climate change is a crisis multiplier and is making the world more dangerous. It intensifies competition for scarce resources such as water and land, and forces people to flee,” NATO Secretary-General and former UN Special Envoy on Climate Change Jens Stowe Altenberg said in Glasgow this week.

“So it is important for security, and therefore for NATO,” he added.

Although NATO has no formal role in the UN climate negotiations, it is part of the recent transformation.

At the summit earlier this year, NATO leaders Climate safety guidelines. They stated for the first time that the military alliance aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from its armed forces, adapt to extreme weather conditions, and conduct an annual assessment of the link between climate change and security.

Stoltenberg said in Glasgow: “We cannot choose between having green or strong armed forces-we need both at the same time.”

As is common practice in the current defense planning process, military emissions from fighter jets, tanks, or naval assets are usually not counted. However, they are an important source of greenhouse gases in most countries.

but expert It is believed that the recombination of military capabilities and ecological engineering may be the next big thing in national defense research and development.

In addition, in recent years, the military thinking of fighting in more remote and climate-affected areas has also changed.

A recent example is NATO’s most extensive military exercises since the Cold War. High North of Europe As the geopolitics of the Arctic becomes more complicated.

On the other hand, the European Union has made similar attempts in its (so far limited) security field in the past year to solve the climate problem.

Last year, member states Firm Link climate policy and conflict resolution, and propose a route map Incorporate climate factors into the EU’s security and defense policies.

The external dimension of the Green Agreement also recognizes that climate action is a contributor to peace and stability in the EU’s neighboring regions.

The EU aims to protect its military and civil defense missions from climate impacts, and seeks to include green innovation more prominently in defense investment and R&D.

Although the EU pays more attention to the relationship between climate change and security, its actions have not gone beyond merely acknowledging that climate change is a “threat multiplier” or “risk multiplier” for other security issues.

Although the EU has pledged to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, for example, the European military’s emission reduction targets have not yet been considered.

“If we want to contribute to the EU’s climate neutrality goals by 2050, member states must develop specific solutions for safe and sustainable energy models to improve operational efficiency,” Slovenia’s Minister of Defense When asked if that would happen earlier this year, Mattei Tonin told EURACTIV that the EU may soon push for more ambitious climate goals in this area.

This may include reducing the national defense environmental footprint by refurbishing buildings and military camps, as well as reducing reliance on fuel.

“The defense sector is a big consumer of fossil fuels,” Toning said.

“By implementing renewable energy in the defense sector, new possibilities can be opened up for the advancement of hydrogen technology to the defense sector,” he said, adding that projects aimed at achieving military hydrogen mobility are underway.

At the same time, climate instability is still seen as something that only exists outside the borders of the EU.

It remains to be seen whether the EU’s new strategic compass, the military strategy document to be drafted by the EU in November, will include more commitments to these pressing issues and shift from mere awareness to policy changes.

EU in the world

Hydrogen in India| Speaking of COP26, India’s goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2070, and the country has transformed into Global renewable energy power station May provide opportunities for EU-India climate cooperation. Both Delhi and Brussels have reiterated their commitment to expand cooperation and may launch the “Green Hydrogen Alliance” on the agenda of bilateral talks next year.

Tigray sanctions | One year later, the war in Ethiopia is still raging.The EU is preparing to impose sanctions on those responsible for the war and humanitarian crisis in Tigray Province, Ethiopia, EU officials Confirm with EURACTIV.

Iran talks| Iran agreed to resume negotiations on a nuclear agreement with world powers after a five-month gap on November 29. EU envoy Enrique Mora led six rounds of talks earlier this year and recently flew to Tehran to seek progress. Will host the meeting again.

Defensive angle

Training mission | The EU launched a military training mission this week Mozambique Help the local army fight the jihadist insurgency in its natural gas-rich north.

U.S.-NATO Special Envoy | The United States still does not have an ambassador to NATO because Julianne Smith’s nomination has already Blocked.

Transatlantic connection

Internet governance | Washington has invited the European Union to join France, Germany, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia to participate in the establishment of the Internet Future Alliance.An internal communication shows that the US proposal for future Internet governance is still too uncertain for the European Commission What EURACTIV sees.

Agriculture Platform| The European Commission and the U.S. government announced the establishment of a new transatlantic agricultural cooperation platform to promote knowledge exchange and cooperation. But the tension still exists The EU promotes the wider impact of sustainable development.

Zoom in latest

Bosnia mission | Unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council Extend the term of office by one year Although Russia opposes the dispatch of high-level international representatives in the Balkan countries, the European military mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina will continue.

Eurasian Digest

The EU is bigger in Taiwan | This week, the visiting head of the European Parliament delegation stated that Taiwan’s democracy is a “treasure” that needs to be protected. Promise to stand with the island As the tension between Beijing and Taipei rose to its highest level in years.But the The EU is walking a tightrope here.