NATO Teams Up with NPS to Lead Climate Security Education

NATO’s Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation and the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) have embarked on a significant collaboration by launching their first Climate Change and Security course on September 23, 2024. This course aligns with the objectives outlined in the Secretary of the Navy’s Climate Action 2030 strategic plan and the Naval Education Strategy, emphasizing the importance of international partnerships in tackling climate-related security challenges.

Scientific studies have increasingly highlighted the role of global warming in exacerbating natural disasters, as evidenced by the intensified hurricanes that recently impacted the southeastern United States. This underscores the urgency for global cooperation to build resilience against the burgeoning threats posed by climate change.

“The weeklong course was tailored for mid-career government and military officers tasked with supporting strategic decision-making related to climate change and security,” explained Kristen Fletcher, a researcher at NPS and one of the course’s developers. Fletcher emphasized the value of interaction among participants, forming networks that extend beyond information sharing to foster ongoing support and collaboration.

Participants from 19 countries, including NATO and partner nations, were present. Paul Rushton, NATO’s co-lead for the course, highlighted the pressing demand for climate-focused security training and announced plans to build upon this inaugural learning experience.

With Sweden’s recent NATO membership, Jenny Lundén from the Swedish Defense Research Agency emphasized the importance of understanding NATO’s climate and security initiatives, given the perceptible seasonal shifts already being observed in her region.

Course content covered various dimensions of climate change, including science, energy security, operational impacts, and resilience. A comprehensive tabletop exercise engaged participants in addressing these issues across diverse global regions.

Marijana Petrov from the Czech Ministry of Defense stressed the opportunity the course presented to learn from other nations, especially in light of the recent catastrophic flooding in Central Europe.

The course highlighted the risks posed by insufficient climate and security policies to military operational capabilities and global stability. Rebecca Grippo, a recent law school graduate and presenter at the course, noted that emerging climate change case law is shaping policy trends critical to military operations.

Lt. Col. Matt Horwatt of the U.S. Army underscored the Army’s dual focus on its environmental impact and vice versa, emphasizing the importance of translating climate security discussions into actionable insights for senior leaders.

The ongoing collaboration between NPS and NATO is set to continue, with plans for further climate and security courses scheduled for 2025, as part of broader efforts to address the evolving global security landscape.