We must integrate climate security into European security policies (Indrek Tarand)

(BRUSSELS2) Climate change and natural disasters have a significant impact on international peace and security. European security and defense policy must therefore be adapted accordingly. This is what Estonian MEP Indrek Tarand (Greens/EFA, also a member of the Parliament's delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly) wants to recall in a resolution which will be discussed on Thursday (21 June) at the Deputy Security and Defense Committee of the European Parliament.

Natural disasters and climate change particularly destabilize the most vulnerable States, where for example the decline in access to water or other resources forces populations to migrate and thus overstretch already weak administrative, economic or social systems, which sets the conditions for the emergence of conflicts (as for example in the Sahel). To fight against this, Europe has a good potential, it is still necessary to use it but also to adapt it, says the MEP.

New instruments must be created

• A working group at the Council in charge of coordinating issues between climate change, energy security and defence.

• A “special envoy” on climate security must be instituted at EU and Member State level, as the UN has put forward the idea at its level and as the United Kingdom has already done in the person of Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti. A new Special Representative of sorts.

Above all, staff are needed and the existing structures need to be adapted

The issue of climate change and natural disasters must be integrated right from planning in the CSDP, in its strategic and conceptual documents, but also in decision-making structures such as the Civil Planning and Conduct Capability (= the command of civilian missions of crisis management), the Military Staff or the Military Committee. It is a question of acting at the level of crisis prevention, in particular through the collection and analysis of data. This requires "adequate" human resources. Including in the field: experts must also be sent to EU delegations in the countries most concerned.

And use the resources available: pooling and sharing and battlegroups

Pooling and sharing, for example, is a good opportunity. The Council, as well as the European Defense Agency, are therefore invited to draw up a list of available capacities which can be used for climatic crises and natural disasters (for example in the fields of air and maritime transport, mobile hospitals, communications or water purification). We must find avenues for other common projects that would be relevant to the management of climate crises. Battlegroups are also a good starting point, which could serve as a model to adapt to the themes concerned. Finally, cooperation with NATO in terms of capabilities is also welcome.

Download the draft resolution within B2 docs.