Nordefco's Green Defence webinar, organised under Finland's leadership, discussed common Nordic funds to promote environmentally sustainable procurement of defence equipment and the related circular economy. Nordefco's long-term goal is to be operational in accordance with the principles of sustainable development.
Finland will serve as President of Nordefco until the end of the year, after which the Presidency will be handed over to Norway. Green Defence is one of the priorities of the Finnish Presidency.
The webinar opened up perspectives on environmentally conscious national defence and shared good practice on how to reduce the environmental impact of national defence. The webinar also had the opportunity to map the situation and opportunities for Nordic co-operation in the future.
"Nordefco Green Defence is the most important opening for Nordic co-operation to promote sustainable procurement and circular economy," says Terhi Svanström, Environmental Manager at the Finnish Defence Forces.
The webinar heard speeches from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the European Defence Industry Lobby (ASD), as well as presentations from the Finnish, Swedish and Danish Armed Forces. It is important to get the defence industry involved in the coming years.
In the future, it will also be possible to cooperate more concretely in the Nordic countries, for example in the form of publications, common guidelines or projects.
Nordefco's environmental cooperation intensifies
Environmental impact management and the promotion of sustainable development have long been an integral part of the implementation of defence material projects and procurements in all Nordic countries. As far as Nordefco's defence cooperation is concerned, chemical safety has been developed and good practices have been shared to mitigate climate change.
Nordefco has a hazardous material working group focusing on chemical safety, which has prepared the Nordefco Green Acquisitions Guide, which focuses on requests for information and requirements related to the chemical content of the procurement.
"The green defence is not a new boost. We remember the initiatives taken ten years ago. But since then, there have been other more immediate threats in our security environment. But the challenges have not gone away. The defence industry is not immune to environmental impact. That's why our message is clear: Mission first – with the environment always in mind. We don't do things because we want to look good in the public eye. We do things because we know we have to react and adapt. Respond to problems, adapt to changing circumstances." the chairman of Nordefco's military committee, Major General Janne Jaakkola says.
Editors to the attention:
Inquiries in connection with the case are answered by Environmental Manager at the Finnish Defence Forces Terhi Svahnström, tel. +358 (0)299 800 (switchboard).
