The World Climate and Security Report 2021
Publisher: International Military Council on Climate and Security
Author(s): Steve Brock, Oliver-Leighton Barrett, Laura Birkman, Elisabeth Dick, Leah Emanual, Sherri Goodman, Kate Guy, Sofia Kabbej, Tom Middendorp, Michel Rademaker, Femke Remmits, and Julia Tasse
Date: 2021
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Prevention
Countries: Brazil, China, India, Russian Federation, United States
The COVID-19 pandemic gripped the globe shortly after the release of the inaugural World Climate and Security Report at the Munich Security Conference in February 2020.1 Despite the immediate and acute challenges of the pandemic, 2020 was an inflection point for global climate action. In the past twelve months the world has witnessed a sea change in the attitudes and urgency amongst many nations and other actors for addressing climate change risks. In the United States, the election of President Joe Biden has led to expanded opportunities to advance climate security internationally, in concert with partners, allies and others around the world. This 2021 edition of the World Climate and Security Report builds on the regional risk analysis of the previous report to provide concrete climate risk assessment tools, and takes a deep dive into the climate security risks facing many regions of the world. Additionally, it draws lessons from existing climate security practices regarding addressing climate-related security risks, concluding that while a great deal of analysis and planning has been done on the importance and potential of integrating the climate security nexus into development, diplomacy and defense activities, the actual number of implemented measures is small. The transition from concepts of climate security to implementation is critical and urgently needed. This report is meant to help provide policymakers the tools needed to make the transition, and begin conversations within security sectors as to which steps must be taken to both prepare for and prevent climate security risks in the future.