THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) views climate change as a "threat multiplier" that amplifies existing global instabilities such as poverty and political tension. The document outlines critical risks including mass population displacement, water scarcity leading to potential "weaponization of water," and shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Arctic due to sea ice loss. Domestically, climate change threatens the readiness of DOD's vast real estate portfolio, valued at approximately $850 billion. The briefing details adaptation and mitigation efforts across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, while noting the inconsistent nature of Congressional support for climate-security policies.

• The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) defines climate change as a "threat multiplier," meaning it amplifies existing stressors such as "poverty, environmental degradation, political instability, and social tensions" to increase the risk of conflict.
• Climate-induced migration is a significant security risk, as environmental refugees may face permanent displacement. This creates direct risks for border security and humanitarian assistance, indirect risks to the global economy, and third-order risks where influxes of migrants spark or worsen conflicts.
• Water scarcity is projected to increase the likelihood of conflict in North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia by 2040, particularly regarding the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, and Indus river basins. This scarcity can lead to the "weaponization of water," where groups use resources strategically, tactically, or coercively to further their interests.
• The decline of Arctic sea ice—decreasing 13.5 percent per decade since 1979—is opening new navigation routes and access to undiscovered oil (13 percent of the world's total) and natural gas (30 percent). The U.S. is at a strategic disadvantage in this region, possessing only one aged icebreaker compared to Russia's 27.
• DOD's global real-estate portfolio, consisting of 562,000 buildings across 4,800 sites with an estimated replacement value of $850 billion, is vulnerable to extreme weather, flooding, and sea level rise, which can cripple military readiness and training.
• U.S. military branches have implemented specific energy and resilience initiatives: the Navy tested a 10 percent biodiesel blend with its "Great Green Fleet"; the Army's Net Zero Initiative aims for 25 energy-neutral installations by 2030; and the Marine Corps uses the Expeditionary Energy Concepts (E2C) exercise to reduce fuel demand in the field.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2017). THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Climate_Change_Security_Implications.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE. 2017. https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Climate_Change_Security_Implications.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE |date=December 2017 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Climate_Change_Security_Implications.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2017national, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{THE NATIONAL SECURITY IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2017}, month = dec, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/IssueBrief_Climate_Change_Security_Implications.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }