Climate Change as a Security Threat of the Next Generation for NATO

In the run up to the NATO Summit in Strasbourg-Kehl in April 2009, NATO Public Diplomacy Division and Carnegie Europe launched a discussion on "The Next Generation of Security Threats" and the reprogramming of NATO. They invited R. Andreas Kraemer of Ecologic Institute to provide keynote commentary on the question: "Should Climate Change be a Priority?" at the inaugural event of a new series.

As security threats become more diverse, and dealing with them becomes more resource intensive, NATO will need to start prioritising which threats it deals with. R. Andreas Kraemer argued that addressing climate change and the security concerns that resource scarcity will raise should be a priority. Although there is little justification for military intervention on most of the problems caused by climate change, there is a need to discuss what NATO’s role could play given its invaluable field experience in crisis response. Jamie Shea, Director of Policy Planning in the Private Office of NATO's Secretary General, agreed, suggesting that NATO should act as a strategic hub to generate international momentum.

R. Andreas Kraemer's speaking notes are available for download [pdf, 1 MB, English].

See also Carnegie Europe event web site.

Further Links:

• Ecologic Dinner Dialogue: Climate Change and the Concept of Environmental Security under the Obama administration – Sherri Goodman
• Ecologic Dinner Dialogue: New Threats Arising from Climate Change and Energy Scarcity – What Role for International Governance? – Jamie Shea and Helga Schmid