Climate change

Defense issues
Human security issues
Defense issues
Human security issues

Security Challenges of Water Stress in Southern Europe

This note assesses how water stress, a growing phenomenon defined by high tension on water resources caused by an imbalance between water supply and demand, can be exacerbated by climate change and human activities, and affect societies in southern Europe and the French armed forces when conducting their missions. This note is divided in three sections: an analysis of the societal consequences of water stress in southern Europe and the potential associated conflicts (I), a study of the operational and organizational challenges that water stress generates for the French armed forces and their European partners (II), and finally, three foresight scenarios to 2050, with recommendations for the Ministry of the Armed Forces (III).

6 November 2024
Defense issues
Defense issues

Agricultural resources and climate change: defence and security issues

This brief addresses the security issues related to the impact of climate change on agricultural resources. It is divided into three parts: an analysis of the vulnerability of agricultural resources to climate change; an examination of the strategic and defence issues related to securing them; and an identification of geopolitical and security breakpoints.

26 April 2023
Human security issues
Human security issues

Geopolitical and security implications of Climate vulnerability in the Carribbean Islands

This brief addresses the current and future consequences of climate changes in the insular Caribbean, as well as their geopolitical and security implications. In this perspective, we focus our analysis on the Caribbean arc, traditionally subdivided into two groups: the Greater Antilles, stretching from Cuba in the northwest to Puerto Rico; and the Lesser Antilles, from the Virgin Islands to the islands of Trinidad and Tobago, which border the Venezuelan coastline further south.

9 November 2022
Research methodologies and tools
Research methodologies and tools

CEMC: Climate change evaluation Methodology for military camps

Climate change has been mentioned for several years in armed forces strategic documents, whether it be in documents from the French ministry for the Armed Forces1 or foreign ministries of Defense. Often these changes are seen as a threat to national and international security or as a risk/threat multiplier, especially due to the increased intensity and frequency of extreme and slow-onset climate events and their consequences on the strategic landscape.

29 September 2021
Defense issues
Defense issues

Integration of climate-environmental issues by the armed forces

Whether in terms of anticipating risks or threats to national security, vulnerability of military infrastructure, adaptation of equipment and training to the effects of rising average temperatures or extreme conditions (Arctic), it is clear that the impacts of climate change pose many challenges to the maintenance and implementation of the military effect of armed forces.

23 March 2021
Human security issues
Human security issues

Impact of climate change on the geographic extension of health risks

The direct and indirect effects of climate change are being felt around the world, albeit to varying degrees and in different ways. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that climate change could cause up to 250,000 additional deaths per year worldwide between 2030 and 20501. In May 2020, 350 organisations representing some 40 million health professionals and 4,500 professionals from 90 countries called on G20 leaders to prioritise investments in public health, climate, air and water quality as part of the recovery from Covid-19.

29 September 2020
Human security issues
Human security issues

Southeast Asia foresight

This thirteenth study report by the Climate and Defense Observatory presents the elements collected on five countries in Southeast Asia: Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. It is organised around five country profiles, headed by a regional analysis highlighting vulnerabilities and cross-cutting challenges, commonalities and differences.

15 May 2020
Research methodologies and tools
Human security issues
Research methodologies and tools
Human security issues

South America

This eleventh study report by the Defence and Climate Observatory presents the elements collected on five South American countries: Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Argentina. It is organised around five country sheets, headed by a regional analysis highlighting vulnerabilities and cross-cutting challenges, as well as commonalities and differences. An appendix is dedicated to the analysis of the Antarctic continent, a continent that constitutes an important geopolitical issue in the region.

8 October 2019
Human security issues
Human security issues

Impacts of climate change on parking points in Overseas France and abroad – Ivory Coast’s case

Research on the security impacts of climate change has so far focused largely on conflict risks and human security threats. While climate change is known to have a multiplier effect on threats to security and stability, its impact on military infrastructure has received little attention. Yet a large number of military infrastructures are located in areas that will be particularly affected by the impacts of climate change. With the exception of the United States and Australia, very few countries have undertaken an assessment of their military infrastructure, whereas a great many studies exist on the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure.

1 July 2019
Research methodologies and tools
Human security issues
Research methodologies and tools
Human security issues

Western Indian Ocean foresight

This ninth study report by the Defence and Climate Observatory presents the elements collected on the countries of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC): the Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius and the Seychelles. It is organised around four country profiles, headed by a regional analysis highlighting vulnerabilities and cross-cutting challenges, commonalities and differences.

31 May 2019