"Armed forces' military activity must adapt to environmental requirements", says Pedro Morenés

As well as the need for military activity to adapt to environmental requirements, Pedro Morenés also stressed that the main areas on which armed forces needed to focus in order to combat the causes and impacts of global warming were the adaptation of their peacetime operational missions in the fight against natural disasters, and international cooperation. With regard to cooperation, the minister underlined that "just as in the case of terrorism, no country can face up to the challenge of natural disasters alone and unaided".

In the work sessions, the national delegations, in four panels, analysed the armed forces' role in handling crises in the face of the new security scenario posed by climate change, its repercussion on the management of maritime areas, and naval operations.

The Minister for Defence stressed that Morocco and Spain, as geographical neighbours, are responsible for ensuring "a safer, more natural and more sustainable local environment". He went on to say that "Spain will firmly support any effort towards turning the commitments of our States into open policies". In this respect, Pedro Morenés underlined that "Spain is open to the development of initiatives aimed at maintaining the Mediterranean as a pollution-free environment".

Pedro Morenés also said that the environmental policy of the Spanish Ministry of Defence is based on the principle of sustainable development compatible with military missions, to be addressed by raising awareness, energy efficiency, environmental protection and prevention of pollution. To this end, a review of current doctrines and operational employment procedures has been performed, regulations have been updated, periodical environmental certification processes for infrastructures have been put in place, and direct action has been implemented in the fight against natural disasters.

It should be noted that 26% of the Ministry's land (150,000 hectares) forms part of the European Network of Protected Areas, and that its forests absorb 132,000 metric tons of CO2 a year, which directly contributes to the fight against global warming.

Pedro Morenés also highlighted that "the Ministry of Defence has trained over 2,400 experts in environmental conservation, waste management, and the coordination of environmental management and energy efficiency systems". The Ministry of Defence also takes part in studies on the impact of climate change on oceans and maintains the biological and geological diversity of the areas in which it carries out its missions in Spain.

Bilateral meeting

Pedro Morenés held a meeting with the Minister Delegate for the Administration of National Defence, Abdeltif Loudyi, in which they discussed common threats, including terrorism and the possibility of stepping up the excellent level of cooperation in matters of defence that already exists between the two nations.

Evidence of the cooperation between Morocco and Spain is the fact that in 2013 they signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation between the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces and Spain's Military Emergencies Unit in the framework of natural disaster support missions.

On Wednesday afternoon, Pedro Morenés will travel to London where he will attend a ministerial meeting on United Nations peacekeeping operations on Thursday.