The Canadian Armed Forces are preparing for generational investments in capability, but a new policy paper warns these efforts could fail if the military does not adapt to climate realities, particularly in the Arctic.
Published by the Conference of Defence Associations Institute (CDI Institute) and authored by Cudi Zerey, the report outlines how environmental changes directly threaten military readiness and infrastructure.
Canada is planning significant upgrades to North American aerospace defence systems and expanding its Arctic presence. Federal assessments show that climate-related hazards, including flooding, wildfires, permafrost degradation, and extreme weather, are degrading current defence infrastructure and stressing force availability. The author argues that treating sustainability as a secondary issue puts long-term operational capabilities at serious risk.
As Zerey notes in the paper, “Sustainability is not an external consideration but a factor that directly shapes how military power is generated, maintained, and justified.”
While the 2024 defence policy Our North, Strong and Free acknowledges the destabilizing effects of a changing Arctic, the report argues the policy still prioritizes equipment acquisition over long-term resilience. The analysis identifies critical gaps in how the military buys and builds. Currently, no mandatory framework requires capital projects to undergo binding climate-risk assessments before approval.
The 2023 NORAD Modernization Plan is highlighted as a critical test for these recommendations. This agenda involves heavy investments in radar systems, digital command architectures, and northern operating locations. The report warns that without binding sustainability criteria, including climate-resilient materials, these modernization efforts risk reinforcing existing operational vulnerabilities.
To resolve these issues, the report recommends changing how the Department of National Defence and the Treasury Board evaluate projects. It calls for lifecycle costing models that factor in operational risks and supply chain durability. For the North, the paper recommends establishing binding standards for any new defence infrastructure. Permafrost degradation and coastal erosion are already destabilizing northern installations. To counter this, the author calls for permafrost-adapted engineering and foundation rules to ensure future bases remain operational
The paper also suggests reforming defence procurement rules. Future acquisitions should prioritize modular system design, repairability, and energy efficiency to reduce logistical vulnerabilities during extended operations. To manage these changes, the author suggests creating a centralized governance unit to coordinate these mandates across all military planning.