“We need a new way of thinking”
Prof. Dr. Stefan Bayer from the Bundeswehr Command and Staff College spoke of an unhindered trend towards climate change and demonstrated the impending consequences of this development. In fact, climate protection is becoming less significant in view of the advanced stage of climate change. Therefore, adapting to the impending consequences is becoming increasingly important. “We need a new approach here, a new way of thinking in matters of security policy,” Bayer urged. “This is what the GIDS was established for—to ponder the question: What are we going to do if the situation becomes really difficult?”
He stated that the dividing lines between internal and external security are becoming increasingly blurred. Against this backdrop, the role of the armed forces should be discussed anew—for instance the possibility for them to serve as a “societal insurance against the impending climate change.”
Legal framework is crucial
“Acidification, the endangerment of the Antarctic, an increasing number of extreme weather events—all this is happening today,” said Captain Rogerio de Oliveira Goncalves from the Brazilian navy. “And society demands a response, especially from the military.” The state has created a legal framework for this commitment, but it still needs to be developed further. The armed forces have to include climate change in their planning.
The Chilean navy is massively involved in researching the consequences of climate change. Commander Hernán Zamorano Portilla presented his country’s approach to this topic and said that there already is a national action plan. “The issue of climate change is very high on the agenda in our country.” Measures to address this issue range from the use of renewable energies and energy efficiency through intense monitoring and research to integrating the subject into the training.
Colonel Victor Arturo Miranda Alfaro from Peru said that two thirds of all disasters in his country are the result of climate events. In addition to being located in an earthquake zone, Peru is also exposed to the effects of El Niño. The armed forces have contributed essentially to dealing with the consequences of climate change. “They are involved from the prediction to the repair of damage” and always work closely together with the civilian personnel.