MSc thesis defence Yamani Amakrane: How Armed Forces in EU member states are planning for climate risks

You are hereby invited to the MSc thesis presentation by Yamani Amakrane on 'How Armed Forces in EU member states are planning for climate risks'.

Supervisor: Dr Robbert Biesbroek
Examinor: Dr Nicolas Jager
Date: 21 November 2023

Time: 09.30-10.30 hours CET
Hybrid meeting: room 3029, Leeuwenborch; MS Teams link: Click here to join the meeting

Abstract
The climate of planet earth is changing. The changing climate has direct and indirect consequences for the military or on security. Direct impacts could for example be the damaging of military infrastructure due to more extreme climatic conditions or the impact on operational capabilities when on missions. Indirect impacts could be the increase of unstable security environments due to the impacts of climate change as a threat multiplier or the increase of migration due to changing climatic conditions. The impact that climate change can have on the military is gaining more attention, but the way militaries deal with climate risks through climate change adaptation, however, is still pretty much unknown.

This research aims to assess how the European Union member states’ militaries are adapting to the impacts of climate change. By analysing military and climate policy documents (n=63) and conducting interviews (n=8) with civil servants of defence ministries across the EU information is gathered and analysed to answer this question. It was found that almost none of the countries have a climate change adaptation plan for their military. They do mention climate change in their military policy documents, but lack concrete policy goals and instruments. Moreover, concrete adaptation measures are not discussed by most of the countries. Countries like France offer more detailed policies, but they are also in the beginning stage of gathering information on the topic. The results show that the militaries of the EU member states are not well prepared to the consequences of climate change.