Klimatfrågan i säkerhetspolitiken

En intressant amerikansk rapport presenterades idag under namnet ”National Security and the Threat of Climate Change”. Den är intressant dels därför att den behandlar klimatfrågan i ett försvars- och säkerhetspolitiskt perspektiv och dels för de slutsatser den levererar.


“The report recognizes that unabated climate change could bring an increased frequency of extreme storms, additional drought and flooding, rising sea levels, melting glaciers and the rapid spread of life-threatening disease. While these projected effects are usually viewed as environmental challenges, the Military Advisory Board has looked at them from the perspective of national security assessments and has identified them as serious risk factors for:

massive migrations
increased border tensions
greater demands for rescue and evacuation efforts
conflicts over essential resources—including food and water “
Rapporten redovisar följande slutsatser:

• Projected climate change poses a serious threat to America's national security.
  Climate change acts as a threat multiplier for instability in some of the most volatile regions of the world.


• Projected climate change will add to tensions even in stable regions of the world.
  Climate change, national security and energy dependence are a related set of global challenges.

Rapporten lämnar följande rekommendationer:

• The national security consequences of climate change should be fully integrated into national security and national defense strategies.


• The U.S. should commit to a stronger national and international role to help stabilize climate changes at levels that will avoid significant disruption to global security and stability.


• The U.S. should commit to global partnerships that help less developed nations build the capacity and resiliency to better manage climate impacts.


• The Department of Defense should enhance its operational capability by accelerating the adoption of improved business processes and innovative technologies that result in improved U.S. combat power through energy efficiency.


• DoD should conduct an assessment of the impact on US military installations worldwide of rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and other possible climate change impacts over the next thirty to forty years.