{"id":10076,"date":"2024-07-15T21:40:57","date_gmt":"2024-07-15T18:40:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/?p=10076"},"modified":"2024-07-15T21:40:57","modified_gmt":"2024-07-15T18:40:57","slug":"climate-change-disrupts-nato-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/climate-change-disrupts-nato-operations","title":{"rendered":"Climate change disrupts NATO operations"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>NATO is paying more attention to the\u00a0<a class=\"gtmContentClick\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/06\/28\/us-disinformation-china-russia-iran\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-link-text=\"security risks of climate change\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/06\/28\/us-disinformation-china-russia-iran\" data-vars-content-id=\"57c2821c-2dc7-42ca-a44b-9f9975bb0aee\" data-vars-headline=\"Climate change is upending NATO's operations\" data-vars-event-category=\"story\" data-vars-sub-category=\"story\" data-vars-item=\"in_content_link\">security risks of climate change<\/a>, along with warming&#8217;s implications in the Arctic, a\u00a0<a class=\"gtmContentClick\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nato.int\/cps\/en\/natohq\/news_227571.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-link-text=\"new report shows\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.nato.int\/cps\/en\/natohq\/news_227571.htm\" data-vars-content-id=\"57c2821c-2dc7-42ca-a44b-9f9975bb0aee\" data-vars-headline=\"Climate change is upending NATO's operations\" data-vars-event-category=\"story\" data-vars-sub-category=\"story\" data-vars-item=\"in_content_link\">new report shows<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why it matters:\u00a0<\/strong>The 75-year-old security alliance has unique capabilities to analyze and prepare for the challenges that a warming world poses.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Such threats range from melting sea ice and Russia&#8217;s provocative moves to boost its military bases in the Arctic to increasing migration flows into Europe and North America from climate change-fueled extreme weather events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The document is unique<\/strong>\u00a0in analyzing the climate threats and responses of NATO&#8217;s adversaries, including Russia and China.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It notes that Russia hasn&#8217;t incorporated <a title=\"Call for consultancy services: recruitment of experts to review and synthesise information on the nexus between climate change, forests and trees\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/call-for-consultancy-services-recruitment-of-experts-to-review-and-synthesise-information-on-the-nexus-between-climate-change-forests-and-trees\">climate change<\/a> into military planning, while China has a more forward-leaning strategy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Zoom in:\u00a0<\/strong>The report, along with discussions held during the NATO summit in Washington last week, also injects a newly emerging cybersecurity threat into the <a title=\"UN Urges States to Protect Children\u2019s Rights Amidst Climate Change\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/un-urges-states-to-protect-childrens-rights-amidst-climate-change\">climate change<\/a> security discussion.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The analysis shows that NATO allies are already experiencing <a title=\"Call for consultancy services: recruitment of experts to review and synthesise information on the nexus between climate change, forests and trees\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/call-for-consultancy-services-recruitment-of-experts-to-review-and-synthesise-information-on-the-nexus-between-climate-change-forests-and-trees\">climate change<\/a> effects in the form of extreme weather events, including floods, heat waves and wildfires.<\/li>\n<li>These have led to military deployments to help civilian authorities, such as the more than 2,000 military personnel deployed within Canada to fight that country&#8217;s\u00a0<a class=\"gtmContentClick\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2023\/10\/20\/canada-record-2023-wildfire-season-end\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-link-text=\"worst wildfire season on record\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2023\/10\/20\/canada-record-2023-wildfire-season-end\" data-vars-content-id=\"57c2821c-2dc7-42ca-a44b-9f9975bb0aee\" data-vars-headline=\"Climate change is upending NATO's operations\" data-vars-event-category=\"story\" data-vars-sub-category=\"story\" data-vars-item=\"in_content_link\">worst wildfire season on record<\/a>\u00a0last year.<\/li>\n<li>It also cites 29 international military deployments in <a title=\"2023: Warmest Year on Record\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/2023-warmest-year-on-record\">2023<\/a> to respond to climate-related emergencies in 14 NATO countries, such as a dozen allies that helped Greece fight wildfires that year.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Increasingly, though, the<\/strong>\u00a0alliance&#8217;s military forces will have to contend with more <a title=\"Extreme weather events abound, leaving no escape from climate change\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/extreme-weather-events-abound-leaving-no-escape-from-climate-change\">extreme weather and climate<\/a> conditions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>That includes extreme heat that challenges the operating limits of their weapons systems and support infrastructure and threatens troops&#8217; <a title=\"How the private sector can address climate change\u2019s impact on health\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/how-the-private-sector-can-address-climate-changes-impact-on-health\">health<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Threat level:<\/strong>\u00a0NATO has also found that its adversaries, chiefly Russia, are spreading <a title=\"Call for consultancy services: recruitment of experts to review and synthesise information on the nexus between climate change, forests and trees\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/call-for-consultancy-services-recruitment-of-experts-to-review-and-synthesise-information-on-the-nexus-between-climate-change-forests-and-trees\">climate<\/a> and energy-transition-related disinformation in order to undermine political will for climate action.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It cites an uptick in Russian disinformation tied to the European green energy transition on social media and on online news sites. Russia, a major producer of oil and gas, has an interest in slowing the transition to renewable <a title=\"Energy Globe Award for Sustainability \u2014 Awards 2023\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/uncategorized\/energy-globe-award-for-sustainability-awards-2023\">energy<\/a> sources.<\/li>\n<li>Disaster-related disinformation is another emerging trend, which seeks to impair NATO members&#8217; ability to respond effectively. This was observed, for example, in association with the\u00a0<a class=\"gtmContentClick\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/02\/06\/maui-wildfires-police-first-report-response-lahaina\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-link-text=\"deadly fire in Lahaina, Maui\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/02\/06\/maui-wildfires-police-first-report-response-lahaina\" data-vars-content-id=\"57c2821c-2dc7-42ca-a44b-9f9975bb0aee\" data-vars-headline=\"Climate change is upending NATO's operations\" data-vars-event-category=\"story\" data-vars-sub-category=\"story\" data-vars-item=\"in_content_link\">deadly fire in Lahaina, Maui<\/a>, in August of last year, the report states.<\/li>\n<li>Russia, for example, sought to benefit from that by spreading the narrative that the U.S. should be aiding its own citizens in Hawai&#8217;i instead of <a title=\"Exploring UN climate change regime via Ukraine\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/exploring-un-climate-change-regime-via-ukraine\">Ukraine<\/a>, the report notes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What they&#8217;re saying:\u00a0<\/strong>&#8220;Russia and other NATO adversaries use climate disinformation to sow division, delay action, and cynically undermine the <a title=\"Public Awareness on Climate Change\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/public-awareness-on-climate-change-2\">public understanding of climate change<\/a> in ways that put people in harm&#8217;s way during climate-exacerbated disasters,&#8221; Kate Cell, a senior climate campaign manager at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told Axios.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The intrigue:\u00a0<\/strong>NATO&#8217;s climate report states that\u00a0<a class=\"gtmContentClick\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2022\/09\/09\/study-climate-global-warming-tipping-points\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-link-text=\"tipping points\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2022\/09\/09\/study-climate-global-warming-tipping-points\" data-vars-content-id=\"57c2821c-2dc7-42ca-a44b-9f9975bb0aee\" data-vars-headline=\"Climate change is upending NATO's operations\" data-vars-event-category=\"story\" data-vars-sub-category=\"story\" data-vars-item=\"in_content_link\">tipping points<\/a>\u00a0in the climate system \u2014 which could lead to flooded cities or the collapse of agricultural productivity in some locations \u2014 &#8220;could fuel a rapid escalation of instability and displacement in regions already experiencing climate stress.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div class=\"gtmView\" data-vars-experiment=\"mid_story_ad\" data-vars-experiment-variant=\"ad\" data-vars-sub-category=\"non-braze\" data-vars-product=\"core\" data-vars-page-type=\"story\" data-vars-sub-product=\"national\" data-vars-latitude=\"-8.85\" data-vars-longitude=\"34.83\" data-vars-postal-code=\"\" data-vars-event-name=\"cta_view\" data-vars-deprecated-category=\"cta\" data-vars-deprecated-experiment=\"mid_story_ad\" data-vars-deprecated-experiment-variant=\"ad\" data-vars-deprecated-label=\"cta\/view\/mid_story_ad\/ad\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_468=\"516124\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_468=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_37=\"516124\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_37=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_501=\"516124\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_501=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_506=\"516124\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_506=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_493=\"516125\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_493=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_505=\"516125\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_505=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_531=\"516125\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_531=\"800\">\n<div class=\"mt-6 mb-6\">\n<div class=\"gtmView midStoryAd grid justify-center items-center py-2 up-to-lg:overflow-hidden\" data-cy=\"mid-story-ad\" data-vars-event-name=\"ad_view\" data-vars-product=\"core\" data-vars-page-type=\"story\" data-vars-sub-product=\"national\" data-vars-latitude=\"-8.85\" data-vars-longitude=\"34.83\" data-vars-postal-code=\"\" data-vars-sub-category=\"mid_story\" data-vars-content-id=\"57c2821c-2dc7-42ca-a44b-9f9975bb0aee\" data-vars-headline=\"Climate change is upending NATO's operations\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_468=\"516124\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_468=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_37=\"516124\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_37=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_501=\"516124\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_501=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_506=\"516124\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_506=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_493=\"516125\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_493=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_505=\"516125\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_505=\"800\" data-gtm-vis-first-on-screen48430672_531=\"516125\" data-gtm-vis-total-visible-time48430672_531=\"800\">\n<div class=\"adunitContainer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>Managing the effects of climate change simultaneously with the ongoing\u00a0<a class=\"gtmContentClick\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/03\/01\/carbon-iea-clean-energy-transition\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-link-text=\"energy transition\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2024\/03\/01\/carbon-iea-clean-energy-transition\" data-vars-content-id=\"57c2821c-2dc7-42ca-a44b-9f9975bb0aee\" data-vars-headline=\"Climate change is upending NATO's operations\" data-vars-event-category=\"story\" data-vars-sub-category=\"story\" data-vars-item=\"in_content_link\">energy transition<\/a>, along with its more robust defense posture &#8220;poses unprecedented dilemmas for members of the alliance,&#8221; the report states.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Between the lines:\u00a0<\/strong>For years, national security assessments regarding climate change have pointed to\u00a0<a class=\"gtmContentClick\" href=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2022\/08\/11\/study-climate-change-arctic-warming-faster\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener\" data-vars-link-text=\"rapid Arctic warming\" data-vars-click-url=\"https:\/\/www.axios.com\/2022\/08\/11\/study-climate-change-arctic-warming-faster\" data-vars-content-id=\"57c2821c-2dc7-42ca-a44b-9f9975bb0aee\" data-vars-headline=\"Climate change is upending NATO's operations\" data-vars-event-category=\"story\" data-vars-sub-category=\"story\" data-vars-item=\"in_content_link\">rapid Arctic warming<\/a>, sea level rise and other effects that could imperil military installations and operations.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In unusually granular detail, the new NATO analysis looks not just at military bases, but also members of fighting forces, who are <a title=\"Africa\u2019s Ape sanctuaries face climate heat\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/africas-ape-sanctuaries-face-climate-heat\">facing increased heat<\/a> stress, wildfire smoke exposure and other impacts that could render them less battle ready.<\/li>\n<li>It notes the growing number of &#8220;black flag&#8221; days when it is too hot (above 95\u00b0F) for operations in NATO&#8217;s operating areas in Iraq, for example. Canada has found its tank crews become &#8220;operationally ineffective&#8221; when the temperature climbs above 95\u00b0F as well, with personal cooling solutions required.<\/li>\n<li>Extreme heat with temperatures above 104\u00b0F can render certain helicopters unable to generate sufficient lift for takeoff, particularly heavy-lifting choppers that transport cargo or large numbers of troops.<\/li>\n<li>Similarly, hot temperatures can impose weight limits on NATO&#8217;s cargo planes, such as the C-17 Globemaster.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The bottom line:\u00a0<\/strong>NATO is already engaged in a battle with <a title=\"Call for Project Grant 2021: Sustainable development and climate change.\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/news\/call-for-project-grant-2021-sustainable-development-and-climate-change\">climate change<\/a>, from melting permafrost at its northernmost training sites to online disinformation when its members are at their most vulnerable.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NATO is paying more attention to the\u00a0security risks of climate change, along with warming&#8217;s implications in the Arctic, a\u00a0new report shows. Why it matters:\u00a0The 75-year-old security alliance has unique capabilities to analyze and prepare for the challenges that a warming world poses. Such threats range from melting sea ice and Russia&#8217;s provocative moves to boost [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":10077,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10076","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10076"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10076\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10081,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10076\/revisions\/10081"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10077"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10076"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10076"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cfwt.sua.ac.tz\/ecosystems\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10076"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}