Environmental protection in NATO policy

Abstract

Environmental protection issues emerged in NATOs political concepts in the last decades of the 20th century. Until the end of the 1980s, the Alliance was preoccupied with Cold War confrontation. In the 1990s, the geopolitical and geostrategic situation shifted. New countries joined the Alliance, and interest in environmental protection increased globally. The Pact member states began to realise the importance of environmental security. New concepts and trends emerged. Appreciating the importance of environmental protection, NATO quickly joined the mainstream of scientific research and practical projects. Their goal was, and is, to understand the causes of environmental degradation and its implications, especially in the context of safety, and to take appropriate remedial measures. NATO has been facing environmental security challenges for many years. This includes climate change, extreme weather conditions, sea level rise, risk of flooding, depletion of natural resources, land degradation, desertification and pollution. These are factors that can ultimately lead to humanitarian disasters, regional tension and violence. NATOs latest 2030 Strategic Concept highlights the security impact of climate change resulting from a lack of proper environmental protection as the Alliances primary focus.At a time of progressive environmental threat, accompanied by rapid climate change, the activities of the Alliance in the field of ensuring environmental security cannot be overestimated.