The UN’s outgoing head of international development has warned that increasing defence spending will be ineffective unless Western governments also address the climate crisis in poorer nations.
Achim Steiner, who recently finished his second term as head of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), said, “The more you limit your actions by focusing only on your own country, the more vulnerable you become. That vulnerability can quickly turn into a real crisis.”
Many countries—including the US, UK, and some EU members—are boosting defence budgets while cutting international aid. Steiner called this approach short-sighted. “Reducing support and cooperation with developing countries weakens our ability to respond,” he explained. “You lose control because you can no longer work with the countries you rely on to solve global issues like climate change. In an interconnected world, you’re limiting your own ability to build a stronger national economy.”
He warned that the climate crisis could spiral out of control unless nations meet their international responsibilities. “The biggest threats aren’t just traditional military ones,” Steiner said. “They include cyberterrorism, unpreparedness for the next pandemic, and certainly the domino effect of unchecked climate change.”
Governments should take a longer-term view, he argued, by treating climate finance for the poorest countries and development cooperation as part of—or linked to—defence spending. “This security perspective would justify investing not only in defence and deterrence, but also in development and resilience, which must have a strong international focus. Both are essential to national security strategy,” Steiner added.
A growing number of security experts are urging governments to rethink their approach to climate breakdown, which can trigger issues like migration and food price spikes that quickly become security crises.
US President Donald Trump has called for NATO allies to spend 5% of GDP on defence, with 3.5% for military purposes and 1.5% for areas like cybersecurity and infrastructure. The UK has committed to reaching this target by 2035, partly by raising defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and cutting international aid from 0.5% to 0.3%.
Some countries are exploring broader definitions of security that include “soft power” spending on climate or food security. Germany, for example, is integrating climate projects into infrastructure and defence plans. Spain is going further, allocating €1.75 billion from its defence budget to climate-related activities.
Steiner believes the UN is under unprecedented pressure at one of the most dangerous moments in recent history. The US has scaled back its USAID agency, reduced funding to the UN and other international bodies, and weakened domestic climate agencies. Other major economies like the EU, Canada, Japan, and the UK also face challenges.
“We are in a time of deep disruption,” Steiner warned. “Geopolitical and economic tensions risk paralyzing cooperation and multilateralism. Development aid is about prevention—solving problems before they create deep divisions in society.”Sign up for Down to Earth, our free weekly newsletter delivering the planet’s most important stories. Get all the week’s environment news—the good, the bad, and the essential.
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He added: “Our international development agenda and institutions for cooperation are under almost unprecedented strain—not only due to funding cuts, but also because of their ability to provide a way forward for the world during this highly disruptive period.”
A report found that Trump’s aid reductions in East Africa led to unintended abortions and babies being born with HIV. Read more.
In this new reality, the poorest are hit hardest. “We’ve seen development progress reverse after the pandemic, with many countries so deeply in debt that they are effectively cutting their own development funding. They’re diverting money from health and education to pay interest on national debt, and they lack the capital to invest in future development foundations.”
Addressing this, he concluded, requires rethinking where countries’ true national interests lie—which means adopting a global perspective. “Today, national security must include efforts to reduce threats that can only be mitigated through international cooperation.”
A successor for Steiner, who led UNDP from 2017 until this June after heading the UN Environment Programme, has not yet been named. Haoliang Xu, a UN under-secretary-general, will serve as acting administrator until a permanent replacement is appointed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the UN chiefs statement on military spending and climate assistance designed to be clear and helpful
General Beginner Questions
1 What exactly did the UN chief say
He stated that simply increasing national military budgets is a flawed strategy for achieving global security True security he argued is impossible without also addressing the climate crisis through financial assistance
2 Why is the UN chief connecting the military and climate change
He sees them as two sides of the same security coin Climate change acts as a threat multiplier causing instability conflict over resources and mass migration which can lead to tensions that militaries are then called to address
3 What does climate assistance mean in this context
It refers to financial aid from wealthier higherpolluting nations to more vulnerable developing countries This money helps them transition to clean energy build defenses against climate disasters and recover from climaterelated losses
4 Isnt a strong military the best way to keep a country safe
The UN chiefs point is that traditional military strength cant protect against the root causes of modern threats You cant use a tank to stop a hurricane a drought or a rising sea level yet these disasters create immense insecurity
Advanced Detailed Questions
5 How does climate change actually lead to conflict and insecurity
It can intensify competition for dwindling resources like fertile land and fresh water It can destroy livelihoods forcing people to migrate and potentially creating tension in new areas Natural disasters can also overwhelm a governments ability to respond creating power vacuums
6 Is there evidence that climate assistance improves security
Yes Projects that help communities manage water resources sustainably or farmers adopt climateresistant crops reduce the scarcity that often leads to conflict Building early warning systems for cyclones saves lives and prevents chaos making regions more stable
7 Whats a common criticism or problem with this approach
A major criticism is that its politically difficult Governments often find it easier to sell increased military spending to their citizens for immediate protection than to allocate large sums as foreign aid for a longterm global problem like climate change
8 Can you give a realworld example of this link
The civil war in Syria was preceded by a severe climatechangefueled drought that drove millions
