For the Ministry of Defence and its area of governance, climate and environmental policy is a key priority, and its implementation must always consider the need to ensure national security and defence capability. Climate change directly impacts national defence, including infrastructure, supply security, and military operations. Therefore, the Ministry of Defence has set the goal of reducing the environmental impact of defence-related activities where possible, enhancing sustainability, and adapting to a changing climate to ensure the effectiveness of national defence in the future.
The Climate Strategy of the Ministry of Defence’s area of governance focuses on the following areas:
- Energy and resource efficiency: The goal is to increase the share of renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Investments are made in environmentally friendly solutions for defence infrastructure, such as energy-efficient buildings and the use of renewable energy sources.
- Transport: Transport accounts for one of the largest portions of the defence sector’s carbon footprint. The Climate Strategy focuses on more sustainable transport solutions, including the adoption of alternative fuels or environmentally friendly vehicles, optimizing logistics, and improving vehicle energy efficiency.
- Biodiversity and land use: Military training areas and defence-related territories cover extensive natural landscapes. The Climate Strategy supports biodiversity conservation, environmental monitoring, and sustainable land use to enhance the resilience of various ecosystems.
- Environmental awareness: Raising awareness about climate change impacts and the importance of environmental sustainability is crucial across the defence sector. To achieve this, environmentally responsible principles are integrated into both training and daily activities.
The strategy is implemented in cooperation with agencies within the Ministry’s area of governance, ensuring Estonia’s defence sector remains adaptable to changing climate conditions. Additionally, both the EU and NATO member states are increasingly emphasizing environmentally sustainable defence policies to reduce the environmental footprint of military operations and infrastructure. Estonia is part of several international cooperation networks, which facilitate the development of innovative solutions for mitigating climate impacts and strengthening energy security.
The Climate Strategy is a long-term document that is reviewed every five years. The implementation plan is regularly updated to incorporate new scientific research, technologies, and national defence needs.
Learn more: