September 1, 2021 —  Today the Council on Strategic Risks (CSR) announced it has selected Erin Sikorsky as its new Director of the Center for Climate and Security (CCS). Ms. Sikorsky previously served as the CCS Deputy Director. The previous Director of CCS, the Honorable John Conger, will now be a Senior Advisor across CSR’s programs and Director Emeritus of CCS.

“As we’ve seen repeatedly this summer, no corner of the world is safe from climate change-driven hazards. In 2021 alone, these hazards have taken thousands of lives and done millions of dollars of damage to critical infrastructure,” said Sikorsky. “Beyond these first order impacts, however, are a series of more complex security concerns that arise as climate change compounds other risks — including extremism, poor governance and corruption, rising inequality and state fragility, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and other health security risks. As more and more governments come to grips with this reality, the Center for Climate and Security has the expertise, diverse network, and silo-busting approach needed to analyze these risks and lead action to identify and implement climate security solutions. I’m honored to step into this leadership role and continue the organization’s ground-breaking work.”