Climate Security 101

The document defines climate change as a "threat multiplier" that creates direct risks to critical infrastructure and indirect risks by stressing resources like food, water, and energy. It argues that while climate change is unlikely to be the sole cause of war, it increases the likelihood of conflict in unstable regions. The guide details the specific impacts on military readiness, operations, and strategy, and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive risk management approach combining adaptation and mitigation.

• Climate change functions as a "threat multiplier," creating direct threats to critical infrastructure—such as sea level rise affecting military installations—and indirect threats by stressing water, food, and energy resources, which can lead to state fragility and internal conflict.
• While climate change is unlikely to be the primary cause of war between nations, it can increase the probability of conflict by interacting with other stressors like resource mismanagement and demographic change.
• The most significant security risks from climate change are expected in unstable or strategically important regions, specifically the Middle East, North, East and Central Africa, and parts of Central Asia, as well as the Asia-Pacific and the Arctic.
• Climate change impacts military effectiveness across three areas: readiness (infrastructure stability), operations (supply chain and logistical burdens), and strategy (destabilization of strategically significant regions).
• Security risks from climate change affect all nations regardless of wealth; while poor nations are most vulnerable due to existing pressures, wealthy nations face risks from cascading disasters and threats to energy and military infrastructure.
• Addressing climate security requires a dual approach: adaptation to manage unavoidable effects and mitigation to avoid unmanageable worst-case scenarios.
• Technology plays a critical role in risk management, including satellite monitoring for food security, drones for disaster response, 3D printing for rapid relief, and advanced energy technologies to reduce emissions.

APA

The Council on Strategic Risks (n.d.). Climate Security 101. https://climateandsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/climate-security-101-2_21_15.pdf

Chicago

The Council on Strategic Risks. Climate Security 101. n.d. https://climateandsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/climate-security-101-2_21_15.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=The Council on Strategic Risks |title=Climate Security 101 |url=https://climateandsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/climate-security-101-2_21_15.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{thecouncilonstrategicrisksndclimate, author = {{The Council on Strategic Risks}}, title = {{Climate Security 101}}, institution = {The Council on Strategic Risks}, url = {https://climateandsecurity.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/climate-security-101-2_21_15.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }