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September/October 2023 Update: Military Responses to Climate Hazards (MiRCH) Tracker
By Tom Ellison and Ethan Wong
In September and October 2023, the Military Responses to Climate Hazards (MiRCH) documented 19 militaries that deployed in response to floods, hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires in 14 countries, including Libya, Mexico, India, Ghana, the United States, Brazil, and elsewhere.
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The Interdependence of Climate Security and Good Governance: A Case Study from Pakistan
By Ameera Adil and Faraz Haider
Last year, Pakistan faced the most devastating floods in the history of the country, which is notable because the country lies on a geographical floodplain. The Indus is an ancient and powerful river. The floodplain of the river covers nearly half of Pakistan, where most of the country’s population resides. When the Indus breathes, as rivers do, the lives and livelihoods on the floodplains are quietly absorbed by the water.
Climate change had a significant role to play in the 2022 floods. The affected areas received 900mm of rainfall between June to August, which is nearly 350 percent more than the long-term average. Nevertheless, the disaster that happened should not have been a surprise since climate-induced disaster projections by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have been repeatedly stating the increase in frequency and severity of floods. Climate change alone was not the only cause of the devastation, however. Poor governance also played a role increating a cascade of security impacts that can still be witnessed at the moment of writing and have now been conjoined with other dynamics of political instability, resulting in a chasm of insecurities. To unpack this, it is crucial to consider the dynamics of inequalities and discrepancies of governance in Pakistan, and the chain of events from before, during and after the 2022 floods.
Anyone wishing to understand climate injustice needs only to look at Pakistan.The homes that housed the poor were washed away while those that housed the wealthy stood their ground. As a result of these floods, an additional 8.4 to 9.1 million people will now be pushed into poverty, on top of the existing 47 million. As the worsening socioeconomic situation intersects with political instability and recent protests, that have now decreased due to a strict clampdown by the Pakistani government, the conditions are ripe for further social unrest.
Though climate change caused the extreme rains, the subsequent inequality of the impact of these rains is evidence of the deep underlying socioeconomic disparity and complex issues of governance that are revealed with every climate-induced calamity that Pakistanis endure. Climate change hazards interact with the fault lines in Pakistan’s governance system and practices to multiply threats. Therefore, to attribute all of this only to climate change would be inappropriate and lacking a comprehensive view.
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Three Climate Issues to Watch in Defense Bills this Fall
by John Conger
For many years, a bipartisan consensus has been built in Washington around the risks that climate change poses to U.S. national security priorities. Congress has passed pragmatic legislation to assess the vulnerability of military infrastructure and forces; to expand U.S. military authorities and capabilities for resilience; and to increase emphasis on the melting Arctic and new tensions between the United States and both Russia and China.
This year, however, climate issues have been drawn into tense and partisan political debates, which at the time of this publication, look like they will lead to a government shutdown. As the overarching government funding issues take center stage, here are three climate issues to keep an eye on as Congress moves defense legislation this Fall.
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We’re Hiring: Research Fellows, Center for Climate and Security
The Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) seeks to hire two team members for its Center for Climate and Security: Research Fellow (Nexus25 Project) and Research Fellow (General).
Research Fellow (Nexus25 Project)
The person filling this role will primarily support CCS collaboration with Nexus25 project partners (www.nexus25.org). This is an effort to move forward an agenda for the renewal of multilateralism in the face of the multidimensional and transnational challenges of our times intertwining climate change, food security, and human mobility. These issues are analyzed and discussed from a transatlantic perspective with key partners in emerging countries in Africa and South Asia with the goal of a strategic reorientation of multilateral partnerships within a global context.
The Research Fellow will work closely with Nexus25 personnel in Europe and the United States.
Duties will include:
- Conducting relevant research and analysis related to the project as appropriate;
- Contributing to the production of written and audiovisual outputs of the project;
- Helping facilitate coordination among Nexus25 partners, the Istituto Affari Internazionale (IAI) and the Center for Climate and Security;
- Tracking developments and contacts with the relevant stakeholders from multilateral bodies and fora, such as the UN, World Bank, IMF, G7, G20;
- Helping identify potential Nexus25 partners with specific thematic or regional expertise;
- Providing logistic and organizing support for high-level events in Washington DC and in Europe;
- Helping advance CSR’s diversity and inclusivity goals;
- Taking on other related responsibilities that may be requested from time to time.
The ideal candidate will have:
- A master’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience
- Familiarity with transnational challenges and trends, such as food security, climate change, human mobility and security and/or familiarity with multilateral institutions including the EU
- A passion for addressing food security and climate security risks and knowledge in this field
- Strong writing, communication, and interpersonal skills
- A desire to work in multidisciplinary, silo-busting environments
- Comfort with a largely remote work environment
- A demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion
- Location in Washington, DC, with a willingness to travel
To apply to this position, please use the button below. CSR will evaluate applications on a rolling basis until the application deadline of September 8.
Research Fellow (General), Center for Climate and Security
This is an entry-level position focused on addressing climate security risks and solutions. The person in this role will work closely with the CCS Director and Deputy Director and other members of the CCS team.
The person filling this role will:
- Support the management and implementation of a range of CCS projects, including those related to the intersection of climate change, food security, conflict, humanitarian response, and stability. This support will include duties such as:
- Assist with substantive research and analytic writing such as blog posts, briefers and reports related to the projects
- Assist in conceptualizing, organizing and implementing public and private events, including multi-day workshops and U.S. and/or international trips
- Help manage communications and outreach to key project stakeholders and policy contacts
- Track policy trends relevant to the projects; for example by monitoring specific legislation and Executive Branch budget trends and policies
- Provide general administrative support, for example assisting in scheduling meetings and events
- Help to advance CSR’s diversity and inclusion goals
- Take on other responsibilities that may be requested from time to time
The ideal candidate will have:
- A college degree in a relevant field
- Familiarity with international security issues and trends
- A passion for advancing climate security policy and knowledge in this field
- Strong writing, communication, and interpersonal skills (foreign language or data analysis skills a plus, but not required)
- Strong project management skills or enthusiasm for developing them
- A desire to work in multidisciplinary, silo-busting environments
- Comfort with a largely remote work environment
- Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion
- Location in Washington, DC is strongly desired
To apply to this position, please use the button below. CSR will evaluate applications on a rolling basis until the application deadline of September 8.
For both positions:
CSR seeks candidates with the vision and potential needed to become a true leader in national and international security.
CSR has a highly flexible work environment. Outside of specific meetings and events, remote working is our norm. CSR will help the right candidate develop or expand skills required for success in this position and expects there will be opportunities for future growth. CSR’s pay band for candidates hired at the Research Fellow level will be $70,000-$78,000, based on the qualifications and experience levels of the applicants. CSR’s current benefits include health insurance with employer coverage of 70% of premium costs and a range of plan options; a 403(b) retirement plan for which CSR matches employee contributions dollar for dollar up to 6% of their salary, with no vesting delay; and 21 full days of leave and 3 sick days, in addition to observing all U.S. federal holidays.
Applications for both positions are due September 8.
CSR is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate and will take affirmative action measures to ensure against discrimination in employment, recruitment, advertisements for employment, compensation, termination, upgrading, promotions, and other conditions of employment against any employee or job applicant on the bases of race, color, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, religion, creed, disability, veteran’s status, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, political affiliation, matriculation status, genetic disposition or carrier status, or any other category protected under applicable federal, state or local law.