Defense Department Reaffirms That Climate Change Is A National Security Issue
Notably though unsurprisingly, due to consistent expressions of concern about climate change from senior defense leaders over the past year, the Department of Defense (DoD) on Sunday reaffirmed its stance on the growing national security risks associated with a changing climate. In a statement to the Washington Times, DoD spokesperson Heather Babb noted:
The effects of a changing climate continue to be a national security issue with potential impacts to missions, operational plans and installations…DOD has not changed its approach on ensuring installations and infrastructure are resilient to a wide range of challenges, including climate and other environmental considerations.
The article also quotes the Center for Climate and Security’s Director, John Conger, who commented on the practical, mission-based rationale for the military’s concern:
There are mission reasons to do these kinds of things. … If sea level rise is going to impact infrastructure, if a runway gets flooded, that’s a mission impact and that’s the kind of thing you’ve got to pay attention to.
It’s not like they’re doing some altruistic thing…They’re not trying to be good about climate change. They just recognize the reality that’s in front of you.
Read the full article here.
Climate and Security Week in Review: May 28-June 3
Kutupalong Refugee Camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh. The camp is one of three, which house up to 300,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing inter-communal violence in Burma. Photo by Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Here are a list of notable headlines and comments on climate and security matters from the past week. If we’ve missed any, let us know.
- “There are mission reasons to do these kinds of things.” | Pentagon steps up climate change preparations https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/jun/3/pentagon-climate-change-plans-avoid-trump-politics/ … via @washtimes @CntrClimSec
- Senate report on climate change and national security offers opportunities for Defence | Anthony Bergin | https://bit.ly/2JfAe6e via @ASPI_org
- Climate change is key security risk,
@florence_parly says: ‘Ever more frequent extreme weather events will create new vulnerabilities.’#SLD18 via @IISS_org
Strauss Center Launches Complex Emergencies Dashboard
This is a cross-post from the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law
The Strauss Center’s Complex Emergencies and Political Stability in Asia (CEPSA) program released the new Complex Emergencies Dashboard today. In partnership with Development Gateway, CEPSA developed the online mapping platform to enable policymakers and researchers to visualize CEPSA datasets on climate vulnerability, conflict, national disaster preparation, and international climate and disaster aid, along with related external datasets on other security concerns like food access and forced migration. (more…)
Climate and Security Week in Review: May 14-20
Variations in total water storage from normal, in millimeters, in the Tigris and Euphrates river basins, as measured by NASA’s (GRACE) satellites, Author NASA/UC Irvine/NCAR
Here are a list of notable headlines and comments on climate and security matters from the past week. If we’ve missed any, let us know.
- Tomorrow 21 May 2018, the PSC will have an open session on ‘Climate Induced Conflicts: Sources of Insecurity in Africa’. The meeting will examine the link between climate change & violent conflict in Africa. The Insight on the PSC has more on the meeting. http://www.amaniafrica-et.org/index.php/publications/onthepsc/52-climateinduced …via @africa_amani
- The UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia also stresses the need to build resilience to extreme weather events https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/05/1010252 via @UN_News_Centre
The Developing Focus of the UN Security Council on Climate Security
By Charlotte Ku and Shirley V. Scott
Just as the volume, Climate Change and the UN Security Council (Shirley V. Scott and Charlotte Ku, eds. Edward Elgar: 2018) was put to press, the United Nations Security Council held another in a series of Arria-formula meetings on climate security. The meeting was chaired by Italy and co-hosted with Sweden, Morocco, the UK, the Netherlands, Peru, Japan, France, the Maldives and Germany. The meeting was titled, “Preparing for the Security Implications of Rising Temperatures.” A key focus was on how the UN system might develop the capabilities to foresee the threats posed by climate events and to prepare appropriate responses such as risk assessment and risk management. The discussion included consideration of creating an institutional home for climate and security within the UN system. Caitlin Werrell, Co-Founder and President of the Center for Climate and Security participated in the meeting to outline the elements of a Responsibility to Prepare Agenda. (more…)
U.S. Navy and San Diego Port Partner on Sea Level Rise: First of its Kind Agreement on West Coast
Landing craft utility boats at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado during a training exercise.
This press release is a cross-post from the Port of San Diego
Port and Navy Partner on Sea Level Rise Preparation; First of its Kind Agreement on the West Coast
CONTACT: Brianne Mundy Page, 619.348.1518, bpage@portofsandiego.org
As champions in the safekeeping and environmental care of San Diego Bay and our dynamic waterfront, the Port of San Diego has formally agreed to coordinate with the U.S. Navy to prepare for potential impacts of sea level rise.
At its meeting on May 8, 2018, the Board of Port Commissioners authorized a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Commander Navy Region Southwest, the first agreement of its kind between the U.S. Navy and a West Coast port. In support of both agencies’ operations and missions, the Port and the Navy will share information, evaluate the best available scientific information and modeling related to sea level rise and collaborate to identify complementary adaptation policies and measures. (more…)
Climate and Security Week in Review: May 7-13
Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn, USN (Ret) on a Washington Post Live panel on The Energy 202
Here are a list of notable headlines and comments on climate and security matters from the past week. If we’ve missed any, let us know.
- In response to damage from
#HurricaneSandy, DOD is building stronger and more resilient facilities. Revisit our report to learn more: https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-15-749?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=gpi …#Hurricaneprep via @USGAO
- Through the Silver Jackets Program USACE can implement its Flood Risk Management Program at state level. Interagency Silver Jackets teams leverage resources to identify and implement solutions to reduce flood risk and assist communities. Learn more: http://silverjackets.nfrmp.us/ . via @USACEHQ
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