President Obama has signed a Memorandum to link climate and national security. This establishes, for the first time, a policy to ensure that climate change-related impacts are fully considered in the development of national security doctrine, policies, and plans.
The National Intelligence Council has also released an unclassified report on the implications of climate change for U.S. National Security.
E3G has been part of a community who have spent years encouraging the White House and State Dept to recognize and take proactive steps to address climate security and climate risk.
Taylor Dimsdale, Head of Research at E3G said:
“There is no security in an unstable climate. By taking action President Obama is securing the future for Americans and the wider world. Europe’s leaders should recognize their own exposure to climate risk and move quickly to integrate climate change into security strategies, as suggested in the EU Global Strategy”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
- Obama’s statement is here – https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/09/21/presidential-memorandum-climate-change-and-national-security
- The White House has also released this fact sheet – https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2016/09/21/fact-sheet-president-obama-takes-historic-step-address-national-security
- The report from the National Intelligence Council is here – https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/Newsroom/Reports%20and%20Pubs/Implications_for_US_National_Security_of_Anticipated_Climate_Change.pdf
- E3G is an independent global think tank, working to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. E3G specializes in climate diplomacy, climate risk, energy policy and climate finance.
- In 2016, E3G was ranked the number one environmental think tank in the UK by the Go To Think Tank Index, second in Europe and sixth in the World.
