CiR2P Option 36 | Regional organisations under Chapter VIII

DISCUSSION:

Chapter VIII of the UN Charter provides the constitutional basis for regional and subregional organisations using military force to maintain international peace and security. However, regional organisation and regional agencies can only undertake enforcement action with the authorisation of the Security Council.

That said, there is a general willingness among the international community that regional organisations can and should deal with human protection catastrophises within their own region.

The risk that climate changes pose to regional peace and security has been largely accepted by major regional organisations, especially those with responsibilities in climate hot-spots such as North Africa and the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), the world’s largest military alliance, has also acknowledged that climate change is a ‘crisis multiplier’ and in response it has commenced reshaping its military to ensure it remains preeminent should deployment be required in climate impacted zones.

NATO is paying particular attention to its air power assets. Climate change, NATO believe, will have adverse impacts on their air operations including aircraft performance (eg increased temperatures limit engine performance), visual limitations (eg increased likelihood of large-scale dust storms in arid regions), increased turbulence, airbases (eg staff operating conditions during heatwaves). 

Climate-proofing NATOs aerial assets is an important step should the (likely) need arise to support other regional organization in a civilian protection operation.

In March 2011, guided by Chapter VIII, the Security Council approved a cooperative endeavor between the Arab League and NATO to implement a no-fly zone over Libya to help protect civilians and maintain international peace and security. NATO fighter jets were tasked with intercepting any aircraft that violated the no-fly zone and engage it if it presented a threat.

NATO is rightly preparing for climate-related conflicts to increase, and its air power to be in strong demand.

NATO member states should continue to devote resources to climate-proofing the Alliance’s military capabilities, which should include a humanitarian function such as planning for an increased need for airborne relief through fixed-wing air drops of food and medical supplies.