Defence in Flux: Canadian Climate Security in 2025
An aerial photo of Nanisivik Naval Facility.
In June, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that defence expenditures will reach $62.7 billion in 2025-2026, aiming to meet NATO’s target of 2% of GDP. The pledge signals greater independence for Canada in an increasingly dangerous world. Meanwhile, another pressing concern remains in the periphery: Climate Change. Due to its military installations, buildings and equipment, the Department of National Defence (DND) is the largest landowner, user of energy, and emitter in the federal government. Central to this connection is the concept of climate security, a non-traditional area of national defence that focuses on climate change as a security challenge. As the DND begins a multibillion-dollar effort to rebuild, rearm and reinvest, the federal government must address climate security concerns in order to manage national threats and assert sovereignty in this new era.
The Implications of Defence on Canadian Climate Security
The connection between national defence and the climate lies in the often overlooked environmental consequences of military operations. Military activities often exploit the environment for the sake of combat strategy. Recent petitions received by the Office of the Auditor General of Canada highlight the risks of contamination from the new military equipment and exercises, demonstrating how defence activities can harm land, water, wildlife and indigenous communities. This impact was further evidenced In 2019, when Whiskey Hotel, a Marine Operating Area in the strait of Juan de Fuca was investigated over noise pollution threats posed to marine mammals. These instances serve as an indicator of how defence initiatives, justified by public safety and national security may inadvertently harm the land, water, wildlife and communities
Climate Change Shapes Defence in Canada
Just as national defence activities contribute to climate pressures, climate change in turn poses great risks to Canada’s defence efforts. The DND owns millions of acres of land across Canada, as well as thousands of buildings and installations. With risk of rising sea-level and flooding, the Canadian naval bases including Canadian Forces Base in Halifax and Esquimalt will be faced with climate disaster. The bases and installations inland are impacted by potential drought, forest fires, and flooding, while the Northern and Arctic installations face melting ice, permafront thaws and rising sea-level. Moreover, the DND has been stretched thin with increasing disaster response, drawing resources from its core defence responsibilities. As climate change increases the number of climate-related crises Canada faces, the nation has become more reliant on the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to deal with domestic emergencies. While the CAF are not the first to respond to natural disasters, they often step in when local authorities are unable to manage a crisis. If the scale and frequency of CAF deployment for disaster relief continue to grow, commanders express worries that it could undermine their combat readiness and detract from combat priorities, even as debates over military role in civil matters continue to persist. Ultimately, the future of Canada's defence capabilities depends on the recognition of climate adaptation as central to national security.
The Case of the Arctic and the Northern Communities
Canada’s Arctic is one of the areas most impacted by climate change. A report by the Senate Committee on National Security and Defence describes climate change as a more significant threat to security in the Arctic than conventional military threats. Climate change presents challenges such as increasing shipping traffic, resource exploitation, and the need for political and diplomatic attention to the region. Although the rising temperature of the Arctic makes the region more accessible it also renders it increasingly hazardous due to the unpredictable movement of ice remains. With reductions in sea ice coverage, rising sea levels and melting coastal permafrost, Northern communities may need to relocate away from eroding coastlines. When relocations are necessary for human security, experts emphasize that involving Northern residents, including the Inuit, in the decision-making process is essential. The forced Inuit resettlement in the High Arctic in the early years of the Cold War demonstrates how the exclusion of indigenous communities in decision-making led to severe hardship and lasting social and cultural harm. With no historical precedent for modern challenges like permafrost thaw and melting sea ice, environmental adaptation of Canadian facilities and operations to rapid changes in the Arctic has become necessary.
The Current Policy and Its Outcomes
Following the announcement to increase defence spending, the government released an outline demonstrating the planned investment for DND and the CAF in 2025-26. Around $2 billion dedicated to equipment, infrastructure and military capabilities includes the maintenance of CAF assets and as well as commitment outlined in Our North, Strong and Free (ONSAF), which is the 2024 defence policy introduced under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. ONSAF includes contracts for 140 new aircraft and plans for multi-billion dollar purchases of diesel-powered warships and submarines for Northern deployment. Advocates emphasize that these fossil fuel powered assets and their transport carry high carbon emissions and the risk of toxic contamination from petroleum products. Another $2.6 billion allocated to CAF recruitment and retention will expand weapons, training and resource needs, potentially further increasing emissions, raising further climate security concerns.
This expansion conflicts with Canada’s evolving environmental frameworks. To mitigate climate impacts, the DND introduced the Defence Climate & Sustainability Strategy (2023-2027), which sets targets to align its defence operations with climate goals. These include diverting materials from landfills, green procurement practices, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The 2023-2024 result report indicates that the Department has cut Green House Gas (GHG) emissions by nearly 40% target, but initiatives targeting zero-emissions and low-carbon technology are still in their early stages; global microchip shortages have delayed procurement of green vehicles, forcing continued reliance on internal-combustion vehicles. Adaptation frameworks addressing climate risks to military materials are also in early stages, with some metrics lacking transparency and facing delays. As the government increases defence spending, it remains unclear how these investments will be reflected in or reconciled with Canada’s existing climate strategy.
Filling the Gaps
With more funding available due to the increase in spending, climate security must be a defence priority going forward. For example, the existing strategy surrounding green procurement mandates should be updated with stronger timelines and targets. Moreover, upgrading multipurpose response supports like space-based Arctic surveillance, airfield infrastructure, and emergency hubs is key to building climate resilience in the North. In terms of Arctic surveillance capabilities, Canada has yet to fully leverage radar technologies capable of delivering wide-area coverage at a fraction of the expense of aircraft patrols. Finally, military GHG emissions are often underreported, as certain operations are not always fully accounted for. The disclosure of military emissions, is crucial to collect accurate data and to hold the DND and the defence team accountable for its activities. To conclude, more work is required to involve Canadians in the dialogue about the choices being made to address climate security. Recognizing climate security as a national security concern and investing in climate-compatible technology and practices are forward looking industrial policies that aim to position the Canadian domestic industries to prosper in emerging low and no-carbon industries. Greater effort on climate security will better allow Canada to navigate the rapidly changing environment and emerge as a leader in both climate resilience and security.