The year 2012 was the warmest year on record for the United States. It was also a year of extraordinary natural disasters in both the U.S., and abroad. Hurricane Sandy, for example, was the eleventh billion-dollar weather-related disaster for the U.S. in 2012, accompanied by unprecedented heat waves, droughts and tornadoes. Tropical storms and flooding in East Asia, unexpected heavy rains and flooding in Somalia, Nigeria, and the Republic of Congo, 19 straight months of punishing drought in northern Brazil, are just a few examples of a very volatile year in terms of extreme weather events globally. The security implications of these, and other similar events, will certainly be a subject of study in the years to come, as will be their connections to climate change.
But despite this dire picture, there was much attention given to the security risks of climate change by governments and non-governmental organizations in 2012. Below is a list of some notable resources published last year. While 2013 is likely to bring more record temperatures and more billion-dollar disasters, let’s hope some of the recommendations outlined below get the attention they deserve.
- A New Security Architecture for the Arctic: An American Perspective, Conley, H. et al., Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) (January)
- Cooperation from Strength: The United States, China and the South China Sea, Cronin, P. et al., Center for a New American Security (CNAS) (January)
- Climate Change in UK security policy: implications for development assistance?, Harris, K. Overseas Development Institute (ODI) (January)
- Special Issue: Climate Change and Conflict, Journal of Peace Research. (January)
- Climate Change, Migration, and Conflict, Werz, M. and L. Conley, Center for American Progress and Heinrich Böll Stiftung (January)
- Global Water Security, DNI Intelligence Community Assessment. (February)
- Syria: Climate Change, Drought and Social Unrest, Femia, F. and C. Werrell, The Center for Climate and Security. (February)
- G8 Foreign Ministers Meeting Chair’s Statement, pg. 10 (April, 12)
- Climate Change, Migration, and Conflict in Northwest Africa Rising Dangers and Policy Options Across the Arc of Tension, Werz, M. and Conley, L. Center for American Progress and Heinrich Böll Stiftung (April)
- Climate Change & International Security: The Arctic as a Bellwether, Huebert, R. et al., Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) (May)
- Indian Ocean Rising: Maritime Security and Policy Challenges, Michel, D. and Sticklor, R., The Stimson Center. (July, 16)
- Climate Change, Hydro-conflicts and Human Security (CLICO), Working Paper. Gerstetter, C. et al., European Commission. (September, 3)
- Protecting Americans in the 21st Century: Communicating Priorities for 2012 and Beyond, National Homeland Security Consortium. (October)
- Climate Security Report, Holland, A. and Y. Wang, American Security Project. (November, 1)
- Climate and Social Stress: Implications for Security Analysis, National Research Council, commissioned by the Central Intelligence Agency (November, 9)
- Water Challenges and Cooperative Response in the Middle East and North Africa, Michel, D. et al., The Brookings Institute. (November, 15)
- Climate Change, Migration and Conflict in South Asia: Rising Tensions and Policy Options Across the Subcontinent, Bhattacharyya, A. and M. Werz (December, 3)
- Global Trends 2030: Alternative Worlds, National Intelligence Council. (December, 10)
