The Longest Conflict: Australia’s Climate Security Challenge
Publisher: Centre for Policy Development
Author(s): Robert Sturrock and Peter Ferguson
Date: 2015
Topics: Climate Change
Countries: Australia
This report argues Australia is underprepared and underpreparing for what is now a known security threat. Australia must position herself to protect the country and the region more effectively. Australia can be a regional leader in preserving human security by acting in concert with our partners to prepare for the climate security challenges ahead. It is an opportunity for deepened, constructive and non-threatening engagement in Asia. Former Chief of the Australian Defence Force, retired Admiral Chris Barrie argues that Australian defence planning must act upon the reality of the climate security challengeimmediately.
The Longest Conflict: Australia’s Climate Security Challenge outlines emerging security threats in a warming world at home and abroad (Chapters 1 and 2), examines how our key allies and other nations are addressing the climate security challenge (Chapter 3) and examines our experience compared to these nations (Chapter 4). In Chapter 5, we recommend a number of policy actions for how our defence establishment can integrate climate security into its forward planning risk management framework. These include the development of a Climate Security Strategy, an organisational shift to prioritise climate security across the civilian structure and the services, and commitments to enhance the effectiveness and preparedness of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) whilst also improving regional cooperation and interoperability with our allies.
The report is infused with the perspectives of non-partisan defence and security experts from the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK) who have both considerable experience in or with the armed services as well as practical understanding of climate security challenges. Their insights and observations offer Australia the opportunity to understand good practices in defence risk management and strategic planning when it comes to climate change.