Environment, Climate Change, and Security

POWER PLAY IN THE ARCTIC: Part 3 – A Policy Prescription for Canada’s Arctic Defence

*This is the third instalment of a six-part series. Given the effectiveness of the Canadian Arctic’s harsh conditions as a deterrent against security threats, for most of its history, Canada’s defence of the Arctic has been sporadic at best. At present, although Joint Task Force North (JTFN) is tasked with northern operations, there are no Read More…

Environment, Climate Change, and Security

Challenges in National Response Mechanisms: Climate Change Related Disasters

Canadian wildfires are observably intensifying throughout the country as discussed in my previous article. While it is extremely important to tackle this issue from the root cause through methodologies such as the Net Zero commitments and recent COP 29 negotiations, it is also important to analyze how disasters such as wildfires may be exacerbated by Read More…

Environment, Climate Change, and Security

US Military Climate Policy and Key Lessons for NATO

The United States military is the premier force in the NATO alliance. To uphold regional security alongside its NATO allies, it operates bases in over 80 countries around the globe. However, this power comes at a considerable environmental cost. The US military emitted  ~48 million megatons of CO2 in 2023 alone. This high consumption of fossil fuel Read More…

Environment, Climate Change, and Security

POWER PLAY IN THE ARCTIC: Part 2 – Dissecting the Arctic’s Power Struggles by State

*This is the second instalment of a six-part series. As each Arctic state strengthens its security and defence capabilities in the High North, there is likewise an overall intensification of geopolitical rivalries, an expansion of coastal states’ territorial and energy ambitions, increasing clashes of interest, and a corresponding potential for instability. Problematically, NATO lacks an Arctic policy, Read More…

Environment, Climate Change, and Security

POWER PLAY IN THE ARCTIC: Part 1 – From Isolation to Insecurity

*This is the first instalment of a six-part series. Although the Arctic’s extreme environment has historically been an effective obstacle to threats to Canada’s sovereignty and security, the region is now being reshaped by climate change. In 2007 alone, over 2.5 million square kilometres of ice melted in the Arctic Circle, leaving only half of that Read More…

Environment, Climate Change, and Security James Lautens Security, Trade and the Economy

Polar Promises: How Canada and NATO Can Defend the Arctic

Canada is seeing rising tensions on its southern border. While calls from the current US administration to make Canada the 51st state draw the public’s attention, there is another border that has seemed to slip the minds of most Canadians: the Arctic.  Canada and Russia share a border through the Arctic, which has proven to Read More…

Environment, Climate Change, and Security James Lautens

Mineral Mania: Canada’s Critical Mineral Opportunity

At an increasing rate, critical minerals are at the forefront of international relations. Critical minerals are a hot topic not only in the business sphere but also the defence sphere.This is especially true now, with President Donald Trump pushing Ukraine to sign over its critical mineral rights to the United States. This demand is presented Read More…

Abbey Stroud Environment, Climate Change, and Security

How Climate Change-Related Disasters are Affecting Canadians and Trade Partners

In the wake of the first 12 month period to exceed a global average temperature of 1.5 degrees celsius, the world is seeing an increase in natural disasters related to climate change. From February 2023 to January 2024, the global temperature exceeded the average temperature prior to the industrial revolution by 1.52°C. The United Nations Read More…

Environment, Climate Change, and Security

Clear Gold: The Role of Fresh Water in Canada’s Global Strategy

What role will fresh water play on the global stage? More specifically, how will the scarcity of freshwater affect strategic decision-making, especially in Canada? With the dangers of climate change looming in everyday life – wildfires that devastated parts of Los Angeles are one prime example – it is important for countries to think about Read More…

Environment, Climate Change, and Security Phoenix Seelochan

Gearing up for Climate Change: Canada’s Leadership in NATO’s Developing Focus on Climate Change

With every passing day, the existential threat of climate change grows. Natural disasters are occurring at higher rates and alarming intensity, destroying homes, infrastructure, and lives. Many NATO members  have endured the growth of natural disaster strength against their citizens. In Canada, the forest fire season is becoming more destructive every year, as ​​in 2023, Read More…