As cyberattacks, energy dependencies, and climate-driven instability reshape global security, Europe must harness clean technologies not just for sustainability but as a cornerstone of strategic autonomy, resilience and defence. The war in Ukraine, attacks on critical infrastructure, and the accelerating weaponization of energy demonstrate the urgent need to integrate cleantech into security, resilience and defence strategies.
Europe’s overreliance on imported fossil fuels and critical materials is a vulnerability that adversaries can exploit. Cleantech – through decentralized energy systems, advanced batteries, and synthetic fuels – can reduce these dependencies while securing military and civilian infrastructure. Resilient microgrids, green ammonia for fertilizer and energy, and AI-driven precision agriculture can reinforce Europe’s energy, food, and raw materials autonomy.
Warfare demands operational endurance, stealth, and secure supply lines. Clean energy solutions – such as hydrogen-powered drones, hybrid military vehicles, and self-sustaining forward bases – enhance military effectiveness while reducing logistical vulnerabilities. Silent power generation and infrared-absorbing materials lower detection risks, while modular and repairable technologies extend the lifecycle of critical assets. Cleantech is not just an environmental strategy – it’s a force multiplier.
War leaves behind toxic landscapes, crippled infrastructure, and economic devastation. Cleantech solutions – such as drone-assisted reforestation, bioremediation, and circular construction – are essential for rapid, resilient recovery. In Ukraine, clean energy microgrids and sustainable building materials will be key to rebuilding a secure and autonomous future.
Integrating cleantech into defence, security and resilience strategies is no longer just an option but a necessity. Yet, they often operate in isolation, slowing progress. Europe must establish a Task Force on Clean Technologies and Defence to accelerate this critical integration. This initiative would drive strategic cooperation, align investments, and remove barriers to scaling dual-use innovations.
By uniting policymakers, industry leaders, and security experts, this task force will ensure that cleantech is embedded in Europe’s defence, resilience, and recovery efforts – strengthening security while positioning Europe as a leader in sustainable innovation.
Click here to read the Cleantech for Baltics white paper on defence, security and resilience.
