Accession Number:

AD1069727

Title:

Climate Security Threat - America's Achilles' Heel

Descriptive Note:

Technical Report

Corporate Author:

Naval Postgraduate School Monterey United States

Personal Author(s):

• Schaffer,Patricia A

Report Date:

2018-12-01

Pagination or Media Count:

147.0

Abstract:

The 2015 National Security Strategy warns that natural hazards supercharged by the effects of climate change pose a direct threat to the human and national security of the United States. This thesis asks if the U.S. government is placing the American public at risk by failing to create resilience standards appropriate to the threats posed by natural hazards, including hazards that will be exacerbated by climate change. What is preventing the nation from understanding the risk of climate security threats and the need to adapt to those threats What lessons can the United States learn from our allies to establish an effective climate change adaptation protocol These questions are examined through four emergency management considerations the climate threat, presidential narratives, emergency management laws and relevant policies, and democratic allies climate adaptation progress. The research shows that decisive national leadership toward climate adaptation is urgently needed in the United States. The answers to these research questions provide a narrow view of key factors that can be changed to achieve a more resilient nation and increase public safety for the American people.

Descriptors:

• climate change
• emergency management
• homeland security
• national security
• hazards
• threats
• lessons learned
• PUBLIC SAFETY
• regulations
• policies
• laws
• terrorism
• history
• LAND USE
• united states government
• government (foreign)
• Canada
• European union

Subject Categories:

• Civil Defense
• Meteorology

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE