A UK soldier from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force shakes hands with an Afghan man. (Getty Images)

Climate Change is frequently dubbed a "threat multiplier" because it exacerbates other sources of conflict. The consequences of Climate Change, such as drought, flooding, and natural disasters, can constitute the tipping point in situations of instability around the world - hence, we are speaking of Climate Security.

The most severe consequences of Climate Change are to be expected in those regions of the world least able to cope. In regions of weak governance, such as North Africa and the Middle East, the long-term effects of water shortages and associated crop failure can lead to conflict and tip fragile states, including nascent democracies, into failure. The power vacuums of Failed States, in turn, may provide fertile ground for political and religious radicalisation and safe havens for organised crime and terrorist organisations. The cascading effects of conflicts emerging from this context - such as migration, calls for support in humanitarian emergencies, and economic turbulence - will be felt in Western countries as well.

Afghanistan in a case in point. A recent report by the Stockholm Environment Institute has found that this war-ridden country is currently suffering the most severe drought in living memory. This means that more water intensive staple crops are becoming less and less attractive to farmers and they are, instead, turning to more drought hardy crops such as opium poppy to earn a living. Profits from poppy cultivation are also sponsoring the insurgency. Thus, climate change has an immediate impact on the security situation in Afghanistan as well as the long-term goal to bring peace to the region.

Yet the consequences of Climate Change will be felt closer to home as well. Severe weather events can threaten cities and critical infrastructure. Climate Change brings about heat waves, droughts, wildfires, and water shortages. In Canada, there are also major implications for the forestry sector and for the fishing industry. The most severe effects of Climate Change, however, will be felt in the Arctic. The melting of the ice gives access to new resources, in particular oil, gas and diamonds, which might lead to distributional conflicts with other nations. The emergence of new navigable seaways requires increased policing but also capabilities for search and rescue.

Armed forces around the world need to be ready for this: they are challenged to mainstream Climate Change into their defence planning because the nature and location of future conflicts will likely be linked to Climate Change. They also need to be aware of their own "carbon footprint", i.e. their contribution to Greenhouse Gas emissions, and they have to find new ways of being energy efficient, not least to cut cost and minimise dependence on oil imports.

The UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD) has already made major progress in this respect. Its ambition is "to be a leader amongst UK Government Departments and defence departments in EU and NATO states in the sustained reduction of CO2 and other GHG emissions."

In 2008, the MOD published its own Climate Change Strategy [pdf, 4MB]. The Strategy identified Climate Change as "potentially the greatest threat to global and national security". The MOD takes very seriously it's responsibilities with regards to climate change, both through Mitigation - reducing our own emissions to minimise our contributions to climate change; and Adaptation - Adapting our own policy planning, equipment and estate to the potential threats posed by climate change, as well as contributing to wider UK Government campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change.

At the end of the day, however, the only realistic means of limiting the security implications of Climate Change will be to start the transition to a low carbon economy as soon as possible.

In November of 2009 the FCO/MOD Climate and Energy Security Envoy visited Canada. During the visit Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti filmed this Web Blog: