Operational Guidelines for Integrating Environmental and Climate Aspects into Civilian CSDP Missions

These guidelines are a follow-up to the 2020 Climate Change and Defence Roadmap and aim to provide a basic toolbox for the integration of environmental and climate aspects into civilian CSDP missions. Their purpose is manifold: to raise awareness in missions, to optimise the use of resources and energy in missions, to integrate environmental security and environmental crime considerations into mission mandates and, in the long term, to provide host states with best practices in greening the security sector.

The guidelines outline not only the steps to be taken and how they are to be carried out, but also the responsibility for each of these actions. It is stated that "[w]hile certain positions will carry a heavier burden concerning the implementation of the guidelines, all civilian CSDP mission management and staff members should be aware of its content and be obliged to consider environmental and climate aspects in their operations. The environmental advisor, a position that is planned to be deployed to all missions by 2025, will guide the implementation, report and measure on progress once a year."

A first area for action is within internal operations. This means 1. Map the mission's environmental footprint, develop a roadmap, set up corresponding standard operating procedures and regularly assess whether the targets are being met; 2. Enforce the duty of care, by mitigating air pollution, water quality, climatic conditions (heat) and noise pollution; 3. Raise awareness among missions' staff by providing training

The second area of action is related to external actions. Environmental security risks should be integrated into the mission's mandate. An analysis should identify and map the threats, vulnerabilities and lack of adaptive capacity in the country of operation and recommendations should be provided on the way forward. Finally, civilian CSDP missions should support the host state authorities in developing strategic and operational capabilities to combat environmental crime

Reference: European External Action Service (2022). Operational Guidelines for integrating environmental and climate aspects into civilian Common Security and Defence Policy missions. 

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