Higher defence spending is pointless without climate aid, says UN chief

"Spending more on defence will be pointless unless western governments also tackle the climate crisis in poor countries, the UN's departing chief of international development has warned. The more you restrict your ability to act by simply focusing on what's happening inside your country, the more vulnerable you become, said Achim Steiner, who recently completed his second term as administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which works on overseas aid and lifting people out of poverty."

"Vulnerability can then very quickly translate into a very real crisis scenario. Many countries the US, the UK and some EU member states included are increasing their defence budgets, but sharply reducing their spending on international aid. Steiner said this was shortsighted. The more we defund [aid to and cooperation with developing countries], the more we lose the ability to act, he said."

Western states that boost defence budgets while cutting international aid undermine cooperation with developing countries and reduce global resilience. Focusing solely on domestic security curtails the ability to act internationally and increases vulnerability to cascading crises. Reductions in development and climate finance weaken the capacity to build resilient national economies and to address transboundary risks. Primary risks include cyberterrorism, unprepared pandemics, and the domino effects of runaway climate change. Treating climate finance and development cooperation as part of national security can justify balanced investment in defence, development, and resilience.

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