Investigate the US national security implications of climate change

Question 7: Investigate the US national security implications of climate change.

Much of the discussion regarding the threats posed by climate change are from an

environmental standpoint. However, environmental threats extend to national and international

security threats as has been determined in recent years. Rising temperatures and other trends in

climate change such as desertification and rising sea levels continue to pose threats to the

livelihood and lives of many around the globe. Food insecurity and cross-border migrations are

expected with the current climatic tipping points. Although Leonardo DiCaprio’s documentary

Ice on Fire has steered away from the political and security implications of climate change, the

tipping points highlighted in the documentary present clear geopolitical conflicts. The

documentary has established that without the innovative solutions, the trends in wildfire,

droughts and starvation, and rising sea levels will worsen (Ice on Fire). With environmental

crisis, the risk of national security crises increases due to exacerbated geopolitical tensions and

mass migrations; hence, climate change should be a prioritized national security issue.

Migration and immigration is one of the largest threats to national security due to climate

changes. Internally, the United States will eventually have to relocate people from coastal

regions due to rising sea levels and this affects the stability of the country, causing a potential

national security crisis. Even more worrying is the immigration pressure from displaced refugees

from uninhabitable regions. The US is currently experiencing immigration pressure from

refugees seeking political asylum from Central American nations and elsewhere. Coupled with

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climate changes that make even the peaceful regions uninhabitable, American borders will

experience more pressure than they can possibly sustain. In a 2008 publication, John Podesta and

Peter Ogden predicted increased pressure due to water shortages in northern regions of Mexico

and increased migration from Caribbean islands to the US, causing significant political tensions

and threatening national security (p. 116). In a general overview, people in the worst-affected

regions will have to migrate and this may including cross-border migrations. Increased influx of

climate refugees creates a national security threat through increased political tensions and risk of

harboring migrants who pose a threat to national security.

In addition to the threat posed by migrations, social and political tensions related to

access to resources could also pose national security threats. Environmental tensions and stress

are rarely the sole causes of disputes among different groups. However, in groups where tension

already exists, environmental stress may exacerbate these conflicts and lead to violence which