Whom do they protect? Security frames in military climate strategies

The research analyzes the Climate Security Strategies of eight Western national militaries, finding that these documents predominantly frame climate security as a matter of national security. The analysis reveals that military responses focus on adapting the military apparatus to protect the state and ensure mission success, often prioritizing national objectives over human and ecological security. Furthermore, the study finds that vulnerable groups in the global south are frequently framed as threats rather than as victims of climate change, which can lead to security measures that further harm these populations.

• Western national military administrations primarily frame climate security through the lens of national security, viewing climate change as a potential threat and a driver of lower-level instabilities. Their strategic responses focus on adapting the military apparatus to protect the nation and maintain mission capabilities in various environmental conditions.
• Military climate security frameworks prioritize the national state over individuals and ecosystems, supporting critiques that such framing disadvantages non-state actors when preparing for and responding to climate consequences.
• Vulnerable populations in the global south, who are disproportionately affected by climate change, are often characterized as threats within military discourse rather than as the parties being threatened. This framing can justify security measures that cause further harm, such as strict border protection against migrants.

APA

Linus (2024). Whom do they protect? Security frames in military climate strategies. ClimaTalk. https://climatalk.org/2024/03/03/whom-do-they-protect-secuirty-frames-in-military-climate-strategies/

Chicago

Linus. Whom do they protect? Security frames in military climate strategies. ClimaTalk, 2024. https://climatalk.org/2024/03/03/whom-do-they-protect-secuirty-frames-in-military-climate-strategies/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Linus |title=Whom do they protect? Security frames in military climate strategies |publisher=ClimaTalk |date=3 March 2024 |url=https://climatalk.org/2024/03/03/whom-do-they-protect-secuirty-frames-in-military-climate-strategies/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{linus2024whom, author = {Linus}, title = {{Whom do they protect? Security frames in military climate strategies}}, institution = {ClimaTalk}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://climatalk.org/2024/03/03/whom-do-they-protect-secuirty-frames-in-military-climate-strategies/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }