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Event Summary: Climate Change, Security and the New ISAB Study, “New Security Challenges”
Last week, The Center for Climate and Security had the honor of partnering with the US State Department’s International Security Advisory Board (ISAB) to host a conversation on the new security challenges posed by climate change, as featured in a recent report by the ISAB.
Ambassador Bonnie Jenkins, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, opened the discussion with an explanation of the role of the ISAB and how her office is integrating non-traditional security issues into its work. ISAB Vice-Chair and report lead Sherri Goodman (and also Chair of the Board at the Council on Strategic Risks) followed, outlining the report’s key climate security findings, and fellow ISAB members shared their perspectives as well. Finally, Kate Guy of the Office of the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate Change and Swathi Veeravalli from the National Security Council provided updates on their offices’ climate security activities and how they intersect with the report recommendations.
This report is notable not only for what it says about climate security but also for who is saying it. To have the Arms Control and International Security office at the State Department, known as the “T Bureau,” argue for greater integration of climate considerations into what has traditionally been considered a “hard security” portfolio helps shift the conversation on this critical topic.
The report includes an explicit admonition that the State Department is not yet prepared for the array of future climate security risks, stating: “While the Department of State has elevated climate change in many respects, it is not yet prepared or organized for ways in which climate disruptions are exacerbating resource scarcity, driving competition, and fundamentally reshaping 21st century diplomacy.”
Additionally, the report provides concrete, illustrative examples of how the strengths of the T Bureau—understanding and analyzing signaling, deterrence, and detection regarding nuclear capabilities—also matter for addressing climate security challenges. For example, the report included a Taiwan case study, noting that “The rapid onset of climate extremes introduces weather variables that add significant challenge and uncertainty to US planning for the defense of Taiwan as well as for the continuity of certain national security-critical supply chains.” It explains how extreme weather could knock out communications platforms asymmetrically, leading to potential misperceptions by the United States, mainland China, or the Taiwanese government. Separately, the report explores how tools and methodologies for understanding and monitoring nuclear proliferation could be used to monitor geoengineering interventions, particularly Solar Radiation Management (SRM) interventions.
Overall, the report makes a strong case for better integration and mainstreaming climate considerations across all areas of US national security. As participants in the roundtable discussion noted, taking such action will require cultural shifts and strong leadership within the State Department.
The Center for Climate and Security thanks the ISAB and Ambassador Jenkins for taking the first steps toward making such changes.
CCS Director Testifies Before US Senate and UK Parliament on Climate Security
This week CCS Director Erin Sikorsky testified before the US Senate Budget Committee in a hearing, “Budgeting for the Storm: Climate Change and the Costs to National Security,” and the UK House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee as part of its inquiry into climate security.
The Senate hearing also featured CCS Advisory Board member retired Admiral Dennis McGinn, a longtime leader on this topic. Read his testimony here. McGinn’s testimony focused on his experience in the military in tackling climate threats, and referenced both the CCS-led Climate Security Plan for America, which he endorsed, and the CCS Security Threat Assessment of Global Climate Change.
US Senate Budget Committee Hearing, “Budgeting for the Storm: Climate Change and the Costs to National Security,” May 15, 2024. From Left: Dennis V. McGinn (VADM USN Ret.), Erin Sikorsky (CCS), Rick Dwyer (HRMFFA), Tim Gallaudet (RDML USN Ret.), and Mackenzie Eaglen (AEI).
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The Elephant in the Climate Room: Financing Sustainable Security and Supporting Future-Fit Systems
By Siena Cicarelli, Erin Sikorsky and Michael Werz
Every year, leaders of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank – as well as key stakeholders from civil society, the private sector and regional financial bodies – gather to assess the landscape of international development finance. This year, they will do so against the backdrop of a complex geopolitical landscape, where one of the most consequential election years in human history, continued conflict in Ukraine and Gaza, and increasingly frequent extreme weather events have divided multilateral bodies and strained the funding landscape.
While this year’s agenda will cover everything from water security to streamlining taxation, one key challenge will dominate discussions: the staggering costs of the green transition and how these relatively inflexible financial institutions can evolve to support global climate adaptation, mitigation and resilience building – particularly in fragile, conflict-affected and violent situations (FCV). As seen at 28th UN climate conference (COP28) and the 2024 World Bank Fragility Forum, most stakeholders recognize that existing efforts are falling short and are eager to move from admiring the problem to identifying tangible steps and best practices needed to address this challenge.
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CCS Endorses COP28 Declaration On Climate, Relief, Recovery And Peace
The Center for Climate and Security (CCS), an institute of the Council on Strategic Risks, is proud to endorse the urgent call to action embodied in the COP28 Declaration On Climate, Relief, Recovery And Peace, and welcomes the COP’s inclusion of a dedicated day on the topic for the first time. This Declaration reflects inputs and endorsements from a wide range of governmental and non-governmental actors across the climate, environment, development, humanitarian, and peace and security sectors. This demonstrates a growing recognition of the reality that climate change poses a multifaceted threat to peace and stability, requiring an integrated response across these sectors.
