Civil-Military Cooperation in Climate-Related Emergencies

National militaries increasingly play a key role in responding to climate emergencies, working alongside civilian responders and often facing calls for greater involvement when civilian capacity is strained. Yet there is very little systematic information about the extent of current military involvement and how this is affecting force readiness. The project on Climate and Security Action through Civil-Military Cooperation in Climate-Related Emergencies (Project CASA) is a collaborative research project studying the scope and framework for military involvement in domestic and cross-border responses to climate emergencies. The project focuses on North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) member and partner countries, as well as other countries globally with high climate exposure or high military involvement in climate-related emergencies. This article provides examples of varied national approaches to military involvement in climate emergencies, comparing country approaches to legal and policy frameworks, operational frameworks, military training, and delineation of responsibilities between military and civilian agencies.