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Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Trends and Implications of Climate Change for National and International Security

eng

Includes bibliographical references

federal national government publication

mapsillustrations

no index present

non fiction

Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Trends and Implications of Climate Change for National and International Security

electronic resource

dictionariesbibliography

Changes in climate patterns and their impact on the physical environment can create profound effects on populations in parts of the world and present new challenges to global security and stability. Failure to anticipate and mitigate these changes increases the threat of more failed states with the instabilities and potential for conflict inherent in such failures. This report begins with an overview of the impacts of climate change over recent decades while recognizing uncertainty about the pace of future changes. It examines the political consequences of climate change as it relates to national and international security, with special attention to the African continent due to the vulnerability of African nations with high potential to intersect with United States national interests. Within this context, the study examined the roles of the Department of Defense and the national security community writ large in responding to effects of climate change in both the United States and in key areas of the globe. The deliberations of the task force identified the urgent need for clear roles and policies throughout the US government addressing the consequences of climate change and produced a set of recommendations on how the US government can manage the near-term effects on populations and the longer-term need for adaptation that impacts US and international security interests. The recommendations include specific roles for the Department of Defense in helping both the United States and U.S. Africa Command address these challenges. The recommendations fall into five main areas: The need for developing a robust climate information system. Instituting water security as a core element of DOD strategy. Roles of the national security community, including the intelligence community, the Department of State, and the White House. Guidance and DOD organization to address the full range of international climate change-related issues and their impact on the evolution of DOD's missions. Combatant command roles, responsibilities, and capacities. The report emphasizes that the United States cannot enter into an open-ended commitment to dealing with the need to address the near term consequences of climate change or the longer term need for adapting to the change. The United States can provide needed expertise, leadership, and some level of resources where it is in the national interest to do so. To be effective, Department of Defense actions must be part of a comprehensive multi-department approach and in coordination with international efforts

Executive summary. -- Chapter 1. Current observation, model, and climate projection capabilities. -- Chapter 2. Current climate change situation and trends. -- Chapter 3. Potention consequences of climate change. -- Chapter 4. Roles of the national security community. -- Chapter 5. Role of the Department of Defense. -- Appendix A. Climate information system needs. -- Appendix B. Special topics. -- Terms of reference. -- Task force membership. -- Presentations to the task force. -- Glossary

Trends and implications of climate change for national and international security