ADAPTATION GUIDE

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EXAMPLES OF SECURITY IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AT HOME AND ABROAD • For the homeland, extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change have caused hardships for millions of Americans, and have the long-term potential to undermine training capability and readiness. Extreme events have cost the United States billions of dollars in damages in recent years, such as at Tyndall Air Force Base and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. 

• In the Arctic, climate change is dramatically altering the natural environment and creating a new frontier of geostrategic competition. 

• In the Indo-Pacific, sea-level rise and more extreme weather events complicate the security environment, place key DoD warfighting infrastructure and surrounding communities at risk, and challenge local capacity to respond. For example, the United States has important defense assets located in Guam, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, all of which are vulnerable to these hazards. Additionally, competitors such as China may try to take advantage of climate change impacts to gain influence. (Department of Defense, October 2021).

Extreme Waves Hit US Army Base In The Marshall Islands.

The recent reports from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, National Security Council, and the intelligence community paint a grim picture of the profound impact climate change is having on global stability and security. It's abundantly clear that climate change isn't just an environmental issue—it's a pressing national security threat that demands urgent attention.

One of the most alarming aspects highlighted in these reports is the strong link between climate change and migration, particularly in regions already vulnerable to environmental stressors. As the climate crisis worsens, we're witnessing an uptick in displacement and migration driven by factors like extreme weather events, food shortages, and resource competition.

The predictions of tens of millions of people being displaced by 2050, with a significant portion hailing from South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America, should serve as a wake-up call to policymakers worldwide. These climate-fueled migrations won't just strain resources and infrastructure in affected regions—they'll also exacerbate tensions, both within and between nations. (Department Of Defense, October 2021)

How Climate Change Drives Migration to the U.S.

Since the 19th century, the United States government has participated and interfered, both overtly and covertly, in the replacement of many foreign governments. 

In the latter half of the 19th century, the U.S. government initiated actions for regime change mainly in Latin America and the southwest Pacific, including the Spanish–American and Philippine–American wars. 

At the onset of the 20th century, the United States shaped or installed governments in many countries around the world, including neighbors Hawaii, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, Mexico, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.

(Wikipedia)