The European Union warns: climate change poses a much greater threat of global conflicts than previously recognized
Considering current trends and projections, experts note that the climate crisis could lead to a significant increase in armed conflicts worldwide due to exhaustion and limited access to essential resources — water, food, and energy sources. These statements were made by EU Commissioner for Climate Action, Wopke Hoekstra, during a conversation with the Financial Times, as reported by "European Pravda." This announcement came ahead of his speech at the European Political Centre forum on economic security. “Climate change has a direct and indirect impact not only on the environment but also on geopolitics, security stability, and the overall political situation in the world,” Hoekstra emphasized. He pointed out that over the past year, high-ranking military leaders from various countries have repeatedly approached him to discuss potential threats caused by rising sea levels, frequent droughts, floods, and wildfires. According to him, these natural calamities affect the military's capabilities and create additional risks such as mass migration and increased competition for scarce resources, which could catalyze new conflicts. “The fight over natural resources has always been part of military conflicts. However, due to the rapid development of the climate crisis, this factor could grow fourfold in the future,” Hoekstra stated. His remarks came amid internal debates regarding attitudes toward climate issues in the United States: for example, the Donald Trump administration sought to de-prioritize climate initiatives within NATO strategies, which has drawn criticism in Europe and has prompted European leaders to call for active measures in this sphere. At the same time, Hoekstra faces longstanding pressure to consolidate European Union countries around ambitious climate goals — notably, the aspiration to make Europe the first continent in the world to become fully climate-neutral by 2050. While security concerns and economic challenges currently define the EU’s main priorities, especially on the eastern flank due to Russia’s aggressive policies, finding a balance and addressing climate issues is becoming increasingly difficult. Nonetheless, institutional representatives stress that security and climate change are closely interconnected and must be addressed as part of a unified system. The climate issue is already making its impact felt within EU military structures. Various armies across member states are increasingly involved in combating wildfires and other climate-related emergencies. The U.S. Department of Defense also reports a rise in military operations triggered by climate disasters — from responding to floods to mitigating the aftermath of extreme weather events. It is worth recalling that Wopke Hoekstra previously warned that the world is entering a period of political and geopolitical “winter,” deepening with the strengthening of far-right forces in Europe and the return of Donald Trump to power in the U.S. Currently, the focus remains on U.S. energy policy under the new administration and its impact on the situation in Ukraine. Given the alarming dynamics and forecasts, experts advise countries worldwide to intensify efforts to combat the climate crisis, as this will influence not only the environment but also global security and stability.