Safety and sustainability: a smart both-and approach

Climate change and geopolitics are often considered separately, and sometimes even as opposites: sustainability as a long-term challenge, security as an urgent short-term issue. By connecting them, investing in sustainability also becomes an investment in security, and vice versa. For example, accelerating the energy transition through decentralised systems and behavioural change increases resilience, while military innovations - such as self-sufficient bases - can strengthen climate applications.

It is not either-or, but both-and

In this contribution, I show that security and sustainability - despite ongoing tensions - can go well together, provided that innovative governance solutions are pursued. I illustrate this with a concrete case: accelerating defence-related projects in Europe, the increasing spatial needs of Defence in the Netherlands, and the concerns that exist in the region from an environmental and health perspective.

European acceleration of defence projects

Under the influence of the rapidly changing geopolitical climate, security and defence have quickly become top priorities for the European Union.

In March 2025, the European Commission presented a comprehensive strategy to strengthen European defence readiness. An important part of this is the ReArm EU / Readiness 2030 investment plan, aimed at reinforcing the EU’s industrial defence base. This is being done through additional funding, better coordination, joint procurement, and the stimulation of innovation.

As a first step, the Commission introduced the so-called Defence Readiness Omnibus in June 2025: a package of measures to simplify regulations and support the defence industry. A key element is a regulation that should significantly speed up permitting procedures for defence-related projects - such as new production capacity or the expansion of training grounds.

According to the Commission, accelerating procedures is necessary not only for the security of current and future generations, but also to stimulate technological innovation, European competitiveness, regional development, and economic growth. This requires better coordination and cooperation - between member states, but also within countries themselves.

Space for defence in the Netherlands

Security and defence are also high on the political agenda in the Netherlands. Many political parties state in their election programmes that they want to invest in personnel and equipment.

In July 2023, the National Programme Space for Defence (NPRD) was launched. Defence not only needs extra personnel and equipment, but also more physical space. This includes barracks, storage facilities, low-flying areas, and training grounds. Within the NPRD, the most suitable locations are being sought to meet these diverse spatial needs.

Available space in the Netherlands is scarce. There is a large and growing demand for space, not only for defence, but also for housing, nature development, and the energy transition. The interests of defence must be carefully weighed against other societal interests to achieve a balanced distribution of space. The final decisions on this are made by the cabinet.

Concerns about sustainability in the region

Although defence is primarily a national competence, the measures proposed by the European Commission may also have consequences at the provincial and local level, just as is already the case with the NPRD.

At the provincial and local level in the Netherlands, the importance of accelerated procedures and the need for extra space for defence-related projects is recognised—both from security and defence considerations and from an economic perspective. According to the House of the Dutch Provinces, provinces and municipalities can also benefit from additional funding for projects under the European measures, for example through regional partnerships or innovation clusters.

At the same time, there are concerns about the possible trade-offs between accelerating defence-related projects and safeguarding environmental and health protection. Provinces and municipalities play a central role in spatial issues and in granting environmental permits. There is a risk that accelerated procedures or broader exemptions for ‘defence readiness’ could come at the expense of the thoroughness of environmental impact assessments, with possible consequences for public health and external safety.

Innovative governance solutions

This raises the question: is it possible to connect security and sustainability—in other words, to have the best of both worlds? In this contribution, I argue for a pragmatic approach, with innovative governance solutions at the centre.

A good example in the field of spatial issues and accelerating defence-related projects is the intended cooperation between Staatsbosbeheer and Defence. Staatsbosbeheer, the manager of nature reserves in the Netherlands, is making space available to Defence. At the same time, nature is being strengthened, for example by compensating nature elsewhere, exchanging knowledge on nature management and biodiversity, and designing and constructing defence sites so that they can serve another function in the future.

Another example is the existing cooperation between Rijkswaterstaat and Defence to reduce noise nuisance from helicopters flying over Gilze-Rijen Air Base. Rijkswaterstaat brings expertise in façade insulation, gained from homes along motorways, railways, and airports. To improve liveability in the area, Defence also works with local residents, a foundation against noise nuisance, and the municipality of Gilze-Rijen.

Yet another example is the new NATO standard. This may come at the expense of the climate, for example through higher CO₂ emissions and fewer resources for climate policy due to rising defence spending. At the same time, it can stimulate the energy transition. Investments in infrastructure needed to move troops in times of war—such as ports, bridges, roads, and railways—offer opportunities for maintenance and sustainable innovations. Because much infrastructure is publicly owned, governments—including provinces and municipalities—can steer this through procurement.

Broad prosperity as a starting point

When broad prosperity, beyond economic growth alone, is taken as a starting point, security and sustainability can be integrated into a single coherent strategy. This does not mean that both interests are always fully compatible, or that all tensions disappear—not those between the short and long term, nor those between different levels of government.

In the case of accelerating defence-related projects, sustainability does not have to be subordinate to security. With a considered approach, different values and interests can be cleverly connected, and we do not have to ignore tensions or remain stuck in complexity.