NATO Secretary General Highlights Climate Change as a Security Priority for Alliance

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the alliance must prioritize addressing climate change while also strengthening its defenses against aggression from the Kremlin.

During the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Dubai, Mr. Stoltenberg highlighted the clear connection between a nation’s security and climate change, which he referred to as a “crisis multiplier.”

He pointed out that climate change forces people to migrate and leads to increased competition for limited resources, ultimately fueling conflicts that impact NATO’s security.

Mr. Stoltenberg also addressed the impact of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to send troops into Ukraine, emphasizing the need for NATO to reduce its dependence on Russian gas for security reasons.

Additionally, the secretary-general stressed the importance of NATO members diversifying their energy sources to avoid overreliance on a few suppliers, especially for critical components like solar panels and batteries.

Moreover, Mr. Stoltenberg highlighted the need for NATO to decrease emissions from the military sector, acknowledging the environmental impact of military equipment such as battle tanks, battleships, and fighter jets.

He projected that NATO would achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and underscored the importance of transitioning toward more environmentally friendly and sustainable military technology.