Your article (National security threatened by climate crisis, UK intelligence chiefs due to warn, 8 October) exposed the dangerous disconnect between climate policy and defence. It raises vital questions about Britain’s – and the world’s – readiness to face the security threats posed by the climate crisis, none of which can be met if leaders keep treating climate and defence as separate issues.
This summer, wildfires linked to climate change brought Europe to its knees, wreaking economic havoc, overwhelming health systems and draining military resources. All over the world, climate breakdown is fuelling instability, conflict and displacement. The EU’s failure to break free from Moscow’s pipelines is jeopardising its energy sovereignty. Too many governments treat climate and security as separate priorities, but true security will depend on how quickly we integrate climate resilience into national defence.
As world leaders increase their defence budgets, they must redefine what security means. Nato’s pledge to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, agreed this summer, should be used to invest in innovation, something the British military has a proud history of.
The navy’s shift from burning coal to oil before the first world war was controversial, but ended up strengthening the British fleet. Today, dual-use technologies – which have both civilian and military applications, such as hybrid electric vehicles and sustainable aviation fuel – can similarly reduce emissions while boosting military performance.
Lt Gen (retd) Richard Nugee
Devizes, Wiltshire
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