Let’s Not Get Caught Flat-Footed on the Next Crisis: Coronavirus, Climate Change, and American Security

The authors argue that COVID-19 and climate change are direct threats to U.S. national security and act as 'threat multipliers' that amplify geostrategic competition and local conflicts. They contend that the U.S. should not simply reallocate funds away from national defense but instead expand the defense toolkit to include biodefense, climate adaptation for military bases, and support for international cooperation to prevent the collapse of global governance systems.

• Pandemics and climate change are direct threats to U.S. national security that can cause loss of life, increase international tensions, and degrade the readiness of defense forces. Examples include the spread of COVID-19 on U.S. Naval vessels and the March 2019 flooding of one third of Offutt Air Force Base, which damaged over 60 structures and affected critical nuclear force roles.
• Disease and climate risks act as 'threat multipliers' that exacerbate existing security challenges. This is evidenced by COVID-19 worsening tensions with China and Iran, the virus spreading into conflict-ridden Libya, and climate-driven droughts and population dislocation contributing to instability in Nigeria. Additionally, ice loss in the Arctic is linked to deteriorating relations with Russia and its remilitarization of the region.
• The convergence of multiple crises—such as war, disease, and water scarcity in Yemen, or climate change and energy access issues in Pakistan and India—increases the risk of miscalculations and the escalation of conflict. This failure to address these threats is eroding confidence in international cooperation and weakening the global governance systems and treaty frameworks established after the World Wars.
• To address these risks, the U.S. should increase defense budget resources for biodefense programs, climate change prevention for military bases, and the treatment of heat-related illnesses among personnel. The authors recommend supporting the World Health Organization, international climate and nuclear treaties, and increasing support for climate modelers and biothreat experts at universities and National Labs.

APA

Parthemore, C., & Goodman, S. (2020). Let’s Not Get Caught Flat-Footed on the Next Crisis: Coronavirus, Climate Change, and American Security. The Council on Strategic Risks. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/05/19/lets-not-get-caught-flat-footed-on-the-next-crisis-coronavirus-climate-change-and-american-security/

Chicago

Parthemore, Christine, and Sherri Goodman. Let’s Not Get Caught Flat-Footed on the Next Crisis: Coronavirus, Climate Change, and American Security. The Council on Strategic Risks, 2020. https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/05/19/lets-not-get-caught-flat-footed-on-the-next-crisis-coronavirus-climate-change-and-american-security/.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |last1=Parthemore |first1=Christine |last2=Goodman |first2=Sherri |title=Let’s Not Get Caught Flat-Footed on the Next Crisis: Coronavirus, Climate Change, and American Security |publisher=The Council on Strategic Risks |date=19 May 2020 |url=https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/05/19/lets-not-get-caught-flat-footed-on-the-next-crisis-coronavirus-climate-change-and-american-security/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{parthemore2020lets, author = {Parthemore, Christine and Goodman, Sherri}, title = {{Let’s Not Get Caught Flat-Footed on the Next Crisis: Coronavirus, Climate Change, and American Security}}, publisher = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, year = {2020}, month = may, url = {https://councilonstrategicrisks.org/2020/05/19/lets-not-get-caught-flat-footed-on-the-next-crisis-coronavirus-climate-change-and-american-security/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }