Cambio climático: amenaza emergente a la sostenibilidad operativa militar y protección de recursos estratégicos nacionales

Abstract

El cambio climático representa una amenaza cada vez mayor a la sostenibilidad operativa de las unidades militares y la protección de recursos críticos. Al aumentar el nivel del mar, las sequías, las olas de calor y los diferentes fenómenos extremos, ponen en peligro la infraestructura, limitan la movilidad de las fuerzas militares y restringen el acceso a alimentos y agua. La erosión y las inundaciones representan un riesgo significativo para las bases militares situadas en las zonas costeras, mientras que la naturaleza extrema interrumpe la eficacia del equipo y los suministros. Además, al ampliar la competencia por recursos críticos, como el agua y la energía, el cambio climático alimenta la inseguridad regional y la rivalidad sobre estados territoriales. La planificación militar debe incluir evaluaciones climáticas, las infraestructuras deben ser reforzadas y la dependencia de los combustibles fósiles debe reducirse mediante la implementación de tecnologías ecológicas. En este entorno dinámico, la adaptación y la resistencia son esenciales para garantizar la operabilidad y la seguridad.

Objective: To analyze climate change as an emerging threat to the operational sustainability of military units and the protection of strategic resources, identifying risks, vulnerabilities, and adaptation strategies from the perspective of national security and defense.

Methods: A documentary and analytical review of scientific and technical literature and recent international reports was conducted, including data on global CO₂ emissions and emissions from the military sector (United States, EU+United Kingdom, China, Russia, India, and Japan), as well as reports from multilateral organizations and relevant case studies, such as the impact of NATO operations in 2023.

Results: The findings show that climate change increases risks to military infrastructure, operational mobility, and access to critical resources such as water and energy. It was identified that NATO generated approximately 223 million tons of CO₂ in 2023, exceeding the annual emissions of countries such as Colombia, while the six main global actors account for more than 66% of CO₂ emissions. Furthermore, extreme events such as floods, droughts, coastal erosion, and heat waves were found to directly impact military logistics and regional security, increasing competition for strategic resources.

Conclusions: Climate change is a global, multidimensional, and growing threat that affects national security and defense. In this context, military planning must integrate climate assessments into its strategies, reinforce vulnerable infrastructure, and reduce dependence on fossil fuels through sustainable technologies. It is recommended to move towards models of institutional resilience, international cooperation, and environmental management applied to security, in order to ensure military operability and the protection of strategic resources in climate crisis scenarios.