On September 21, 2016 President Obama signed a Presidential Memorandum (PM) on Climate Change and National Security, establishing a policy that requires consideration of climate change impacts in the development of national security doctrine, policies and plans. The memorandum establishes a Federal Climate and National Security Working Group consisting of 20 Federal agencies and offices with climate science, intelligence analysis and national security policy development missions and responsibilities. The Working Group will identify the U.S. national security priorities related to climate change and national security, and develop methods to share climate science and intelligence information to inform national security policies and plans.
The PM also directs individual agencies with national security responsibilities to develop Implementation Plans to address climate-change related hazards and threats to national security. Agencies should include in their analysis a consideration of impacts related to economic implications, human mobility (including migration and displacement), global water and food security, nutrition, public health and infrastructure, among others.
The White House released the PM in conjunction with a report by the National Intelligence Council, Implications for U.S. National Security of Anticipated Climate Change. The report analyzes the potential impacts of climate change on national security over the next 20 years. Specifically, the report states that the effects of climate change are likely to pose national security challenges for the U.S. and other countries through six potential pathways:
-
Threats to the stability of countries.
-
Heightened social and political tensions.
-
Adverse effects on food prices and availability.
-
Increased risks to human health.
-
Negative impacts on investments and economic competitiveness.
-
Potential climate discontinuities and secondary surprises.