Whether risks emerge from human aggression or other factors, the core mission of national military forces is to provide protection from threats to security. Climate Change is multiplying threats to peace and stability, forcing military leaders everywhere to adapt strategic planning.
A briefing published today summarises security-related findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for the leaders of defence communities and associated policy makers. The briefing makes clear that the impacts of climate change will affect all parts of the world, and outlines potential flashpoints of conflict and threats that could require large-scale military response.
The briefing is a joint publication of the Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change (GMACCC), the Institute for Environmental Security (IES) and the University of Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability leadership (CISL) with the support of the European Climate Foundation (ECF).