Canada’s defence policy is being transformed by generational investment in force modernization, intensifying Arctic geopolitical competition, and the operational and infrastructure demands of climate change. These pressures are already affecting the readiness and long-term viability of Canada’s military. While recent government strategies increasingly acknowledge climate-related risks and security implications, sustainability remains insufficiently integrated into defence planning, procurement systems, and capability development.
This creates a growing risk that major defence investments will be undermined by environmental instability, rising operational demands, and infrastructure degradation. This policy paper argues that sustainability must be treated as a core determinant of Canada’s military effectiveness, sovereignty, and strategic credibility. It demonstrates that existing approaches remain fragmented and do not adequately align federal environmental and climate policy objectives with defence priorities.
The paper identifies key structural gaps and proposes actionable policy measures to integrate sustainability into capability development, strengthen climate-resilient Arctic infrastructure, reform procurement systems, and institutionalize sustainability within defence governance. Embedding sustainability into defence planning is essential to ensure that Canada’s military remains operationally effective and strategically credible in an increasingly climate-disrupted security environment.
