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How Climate Change Threatens National Security |
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Climate change threatens U.S. national security by destabilizing already fragile foreign governments - mostly in poorer and developing countries – and creating fertile ground for extremism, terrorism, and other radical ideologies.
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Climate change will create humanitarian disasters on an unheard of global scale. Providing aid will require extended U.S. military involvement.
- Threat multiplier. Climate change intensifies existing threats that already create global security risks for the U.S.
A major risk of climate change is the occurrence of natural and humanitarian disasters on an unprecedented scale. These disasters can overwhelm governments and communities, creating political instability.
Many marginal countries – especially those in climate-challenged areas of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East – could fail as a result. Even relatively stable countries like the U.S. and the European Union will feel pressure to accept more immigrants and refugees, creating social tensions.
- Terrorism and Social Collapse. Climate changes create social instability and provide conditions ripe for exploitation by terrorists, extremists, and other radical groups.
Too much water. Extreme weather and especially sea level rise results in flooding, damage from storm surges, loss of arable land, increased salinity in groundwater, and the spread of epidemic diseases like cholera. Rising temperatures also extend the range of malaria and dengue fever.
Too little water. Long droughts can lead to conflicts over water and other that in turn contribute to violence, civil war, and genocide. Lack of food and fresh water also leads to poverty and famine.
Any of these climate disasters can lead to a country’s economic collapse and political collapse. Extremism often fills the void.
Currently, the world’s poorest nations are at highest risk of these deadly cycles resulting from climate change.
- Effects on the U.S. armed forces. Climate change will place additional pressures on our military.
Mission. An increase in extreme weather could also increase the military’s role in aiding victims of natural disasters. U.S. armed forces could face long-term overseas stays on missions to stabilize weak governments and prevent climate disasters (ie, through flood control), maintain military and civil order during them, and/or reconstruct the countries afterwards.
Meeting international needs for climate aid will be especially difficult if the U.S. is undergoing its own climate disasters at the same time.
Preparedness. Extreme weather affects military readiness. From stressing weapons systems to threatening coastal bases with storm surges and sea level rise, an unstable climate will cause problems.
Existing troop strength is already stretched by ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Increased natural disasters will make this problem worse, putting even more pressure on our reservists and National Guards.
The military also suffers an unhealthy dependence on fossil fuels. In Iraq, 2.4 million gallons of fuel are moved through dangerous territory every day. These fuel convoys expose troops to IEDs and other attacks.
Tactics. Being tied to these fossil fuel sources also severely restricts the mobility of quick response forces, like the Marines. Integrating renewable energy into the armed forces could reduce their carbon footprint and also make their operations more effective. |
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Want to Know More? Read up on the dangers of oil dependence and climate change. |
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