Climte Chnge - Everyone's Business Implications for Defence

Key Findings from the Intergovernmentl Pnel on Climte Chnge (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) For more informtion plese visit www.cisl.cam.ca.uk/ipcc
Climate change may undermine peace and security
Climate change exacerbates existing pressures on security as well as
bringing new challenges, and the potential for violent confict could
increase. The operational responsibilities of the defence sector could
also expand in the event of large-scale climate-driven disasters.

Reducing
the Crbon
'Bootprint'
In mny ntions, defence forces re
the lrgest single consumer of fossil fuel.
Reducing fuel consumption would in turn
reduce greenhouse gs (GHG) emissions.
More Efcient Vehicles
Light-duty vehicles could be
4070% more fuel efcient by
2035 thn now.
Alterntive Fuels
New aircraft typically ofer 2030%
improvement in efciency. Shifting
from kerosene to biofuels ofers +30%
cuts in direct GHG emissions.
Opertionl Efciencies
Aviation carbon dioxide (CO
2
)
emissions can be reduced through
more efcient planning of operations,
including routes, altitudes and speeds.
Security-Relted Climte
Chnge Impcts
Responding to Climte
Chnge Impcts
Resilience
Strtegies
Increse in Drought nd Inlnd Flooding
Food nd freshwter insecurity,
pndemic/epidemic disese outbreaks,
loss of food production nd rble
lnds, popultion displcement,
livelihood insecurity.
Geopolitical Concerns
Uneven distribution of impacts mong countries
depending on geogrphic setting nd other
fctors fecting ntionl nd humn security.
Climte-relted security threts gretest in
countries with wek or filing
governments nd/or with
existing conict.
Rising nd Extreme Tempertures
Lower griculturl output, spred of
disese, food insecurity, less renewble
wter resources, more het-relted
illness, chnge in lrge-scle sh
ctch potentil.
Extreme Wether
Destruction of criticl infrstructure,
popultion displcement,
pndemic/epidemic disese
outbreks, humnitrin
disster.
Flexible Response
Even with dptation mesures,
chnges in climte cn hve unexpected, dverse
efects on militry opertions. Flexibility in
plnning nd response will be essentil
in meeting long-termdefence
nd security responsibilities.
Scenrios for Lck of Resources
Reduction of fresh, clen wter resources
could require incresed pecekeeping
in res prone to conict over
extreme scrcity, s well s
logisticl dpttion for
troop supplies.
Reducing Risk
Action with n emphsis on disster
risk reduction cn increse
climte resilience while
helping improve humn
livelihoods.
Planning for Displacement
Millions of people could depend
on dpttion mesures to reduce
displcement cused by
costl ooding nd
lnd loss.
Adjustments in Security Anlysis
Ntions will need to updte strtegic
security plnning to tke into
ccount risks nd impcts
of climte chnge.

! ! !
Se-Level Rise nd StormSurges
Incresed vulnerbility in the Low Elevation
Coastal Zones, dmge to infrstructure,
chnging territoril limits nd integrity,
popultion displcement, disese
spred, loss of rble lnd,
chnge in costl
resources.
Support for
Mss Displcement
nd Evcution
Sfely moving popultions
and supplies while providing
security, clering debris,
wter tretment nd
wste mngement.
Routine
Militry Opertions
Pecekeeping in frgile
res, refugee control,
policing, conict resolution,
engineering ctivity, border
protection.
Refugee Support
Rpidly constructing
nd mintining fcilities
to provide criticl services
for displced popultion
for extended periods
of time.
Humnitrin
Opertions
Rebuilding nd dpting
infrstructure, mintining
snittion fcilities,
providing shelter, protecting
vulnerble popultions
ginst emerging threts,
mortury services.
Medicl Support
Providing lrge-scle
emergency medicl
tretment, mobile
hospitls, snittion
mesures, preventtive
medicine.
Militry Bses
Possible reloction,
use s medicl
centres nd
support res for
refugees.
Anticipating Climate Risk
Anticipating climate risks can help
planners reduce impacts. Numerous
facilities may need to be relocated and/or
strengthened, notably to secure naval
bases against ooding and
sea-level rise.
Declining Snow nd Ice Cover
Access to ofshore resources in
newly ice-free res, freshwter
insecurity, chnges
in geogrphy and new
openings for trafc.