A complex climate threat
The U.S. intelligence community is laboring to understand how the vast array of changes being brought on by climbing global temperatures will affect American interests at home and abroad.
read moreASHEVILLE, N.C. — Satellite observation is vital to understanding climate change and the threat it poses to national security, but the U.S. government has ignored warnings that the aging environmental satellite system is close to collapse. Now the Obama administration wants to make up for lost time — but increased satellite spending will face some Republicans in Congress who call climate change a hoax.
HUARAZ, Peru — U.S. officials have called climate change in South America a national security threat, but little has been done. Rapid glacier melt in the Andes is a leading example; how the U.S. chooses to respond will affect the region’s stability, and Americans’ national security.
Changes in climate are already underway across the United States, affecting the its economy, cities and coasts. Watch the videos to find out more about the threats facing the nation.
WASHINGTON–Drought, crop losses and natural disasters breed state instability,violence and extremism, and climate change stands to make bad situations worse. But current and former national security officials say the U.S. government needs to know a lot more to prepare for the coming threat.
RAJENDRAPUR, Bangladesh–Experts say sea level rise could engulf 17 percent of Bangladesh’s landmass and displace 20 million people by 2050. The U.S. military is just now acknowledging that such 21st century challenges will require large-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
The U.S. intelligence community is laboring to understand how the vast array of changes being brought on by climbing global temperatures will affect American interests at home and abroad.
read moreWhat climate change impacts are military leaders, experts and scientists most concerned about? Find out what over a dozen experts say about the issue.
read moreThink you have what it takes to respond to storms in the Gulf Coast, melting in the Arctic, drought in Africa and floods in Bangladesh? Take our quiz.
read moreSee how defense policy has coevolved with scientific developments, extreme weather events and domestic and international policy.
read moreBy Heather Somerville Medill National Security Reporting Project Reporting from Washington “I think student journalists don’t often get the respect that working journalists get. I think we proved that when you have all the pieces in place, have the right students and have the right topic, you can do innovative stuff.” — Heather Somerville, a […]