Why the climate crisis must reshape how we think about war

Wars can also put international cooperation on climate change and the energy transition at risk. Climate change demands military responsesBefore the impact of war on the climate came into focus, researchers debated whether the climate crisis could act as a “threat multiplier”. Some conflicts in the Middle East and Sahel have already been labelled “climate wars”, implying they may not have happened if it were not for the stresses of climate change. Any decision to engage in violence or go to war is always still a choice made by people, not the climate. What is becoming clear is that operational effectiveness will increasingly depend on how aware militaries are of the implications of climate change for future operations.