Anthropocene politics: climate change and security in CFSP/CSDP

Climate change is arguably one of the most protracted crises facing our societies, and the intensity and frequency of climate-related risks is likely to be felt to an increasing extent (IPCC 2023). The EU was among the first major international actors to acknowledge the nexus between climate change and international security within CFSP and CSDP. The nexus between climate, peace and security is increasingly relevant in discussions on EU ‘strategic autonomy’ since securing access to rare earth minerals and other critical raw materials is seen as crucial for Europe’s transition to a carbon neutral economy as it is for the task of ‘greening’ European armed forces. Russia’s war against Ukraine also highlights how geopolitical dynamics are increasingly intertwined with climate, energy and environmental concerns in ways that expose vulnerabilities related to energy supplies and critical infrastructure in many EU member states. This paper takes a critical look at current efforts to align resources and tools between the EEAS and relevant European Commission meant to foster actions that are preventative rather than reactive to climate-related security risks in the short to medium term. The paper seeks to contribute to the research agenda on climate security and EU external climate actions by way of asking what it means to address climate-related security risks within CFSP/CSDP seen from the perspective of Anthropocene politics.