Thirteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

Within the last two years, more than thirty senior officials at the US Department of Defense (DOD) have publicly raised concerns about, and recommended actions to address, the security implications of climate change, both due to its effect on military infrastructure, readiness and operations, and its broader geostrategic implications for the US and allies. Risks identified by DOD and State Department officials include the potential for political and economic unrest, in partner nations and elsewhere, stress on US military operations and basing, risks to human and animal health, and the drivers of disruptive human migration. Changes and increased commercial and military activity in the Arctic also affect US security. This study shares a legal and policy analysis of recent DOD responses to climate change and its impacts including DOD directives and policies, congressional and executive actions, and strategic decisions made to address operational challenges, physical impacts to the U.S. and other nation’s bases, impacts of increased activity in the Arctic, impacts to intelligence facilities, and, climate-related impacts to allies.