April 25, 2010
Lost in Translation: Closing the Gap Between Climate Science and National Security Policy
National security policymakers point to climate change as a key trend that will shape the current and future global security environment, but do not always have the scientific information they need to plan and prepare for the security challenges it may cause. This report explores the gap between the science and policy communities and offers recommendations for how they can work together to ensure the United States can effectively plan for the national security implications of climate change.
Key recommendations from the report, authored by CNAS Research Assistant Will Rogers and CNAS Non-Resident Senior Fellow Dr. Jay Gulledge, include:
• The president should form an interagency working group on climate change and national security with all relevant interagency partners.
• The Department of Defense should establish a Permanent Advisory Group on Climate Change and National Security under the Defense Science Board.
• The Department of State should appoint climate science advisors to serve within the regional bureaus and on the policy and planning staffs.
• The academic and scientific communities should create incentives for climate scientists to research how climate change could affect national security.
Authors
-
Jay Gulledge
-
Will Rogers
More from CNAS
-
Climate Change: The New Asian Drama
Commentary
When the Swedish economist and sociologist Gunnar Myrdal wrote his magisterial three volume study of postwar economic and political development in Asia, he questioned whether ...
By Neil Bhatiya
-
Why Abandoning Paris Is a Disaster for America
Ever the showman, President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday about his soon-to-be-announced decision on whether or not to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement with the air of...
By Julianne Smith
-
New Arctic Ambassador Role Raises Profile of Energy-Rich Region
The Obama Administration’s decision to appoint an Arctic Ambassador boosts the profile of U.S. engagement with the region at a vital time. A call from the State Department to ...
By Peter Gardett
-
The Cold, Hard Reality: Canada’s Continental Shelf Claim is Business-as-Usual, Not a Significant Security Concern
Recent media reports highlighting rising tensions among Arctic nations as a result of Canada’s December continental shelf claim have been vastly overstated. This is especially...
By Isaiah Reed
