Researcher from the University of Minho warns of environmental risk. It calls for a reconciliation between security and sustainability.
Faced with the threat from Russia, the countries that are part of NATO committed themselves to spending on Defense. Portugal included: 5% of GDP in Defense by 2035.
But this increase in Defense budgets could have strong impacts in the conservation of nature and from biodiversity in the European Union.
The warning appears led by researcher Ronaldo Sousa, from the Center for Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA) at the School of Sciences at the University of Minho.
Ronaldo Sousa realizes that security is “a legitimate priority” in times of instability, but can “divert funds” to the military area; and will have “direct and profound consequences for various sectors, such as education, health and, in particular, the environment”.
More military infrastructure, more weapons tests and more training exercises “cause pollution, destruction of habitats and disturbances in species sensitive to noise and light”, recalls the biologist.
According to studies, the Military operations account for 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissionsworsening the climate crisis.
In a note sent to ZAP, Ronaldo Sousa defends a balanced approach that combines safety and environmental sustainability.
Highlights the need to integrate ecological practices into defense policiesthrough greener technologies, mandatory environmental assessments on new military projects, collaboration between armed forces and scientists, and biosecurity measures to prevent the introduction of invasive species.
Investing more in Defense is “a historic change in European priorities”, but it cannot be done at the expense of the continent’s natural heritage, built over decades of pioneering environmental policies. “Wars have a beginning and must have an end, but the loss of biodiversity is forever”, concludes Ronaldo Sousa.
The analysis was co-authored by Joana Nogueira (University of Porto), Stefano Mammola (University of Helsinki, Finland) and Phillip Haubrock (University of Bournemouth, United Kingdom).
