The US Military Leads Climate Change, the Rest of Society Should Follow

Sep 4, 2024 | Sherri Goodman
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Accelerating climate risks are also accelerating our global security risks. From new sea lanes in the Arctic, to prolonged drought across parts of Africa and the Middle East, to extreme storms bringing unprecedented flooding, these mounting climate risks could destabilize our security.   

The global impacts of climate change, and the failure of current diplomatic approaches to reduce emissions, mean that time is of the essence to move beyond polarized politics to practical planning for a more resilient future.  

The US military is quietly taking the lead in preparing our forces to operate in a climate-changed world. At all levels of the armed forces, military leaders are adapting bases and operations for a world of hotter temperatures, rising seas, and searing wildfires. They are confronting the global security challenges of a hotter planet, and reducing the armed forces’ dependence on climate-changing fossil fuels.