Extreme weather events this summer showed the risks of climate change are growing. Beyond just being a problem for the weather, climate change disasters can lead to instability and conflict, threatening security.
- Erin Sikorsky, director of The Center for Climate and Security who previously served on the National Intelligence Council, said the intelligence community must warn policymakers about climate-related risks to national security and provide tools for evaluating how climate change will shape opportunities and threats abroad.
- Sikorsky said climate change layers on top of existing state fragility, poor governance and corruption around the world, leading to bigger problems.
- Sikorsky said the Biden administration has prioritized climate issues but that building a workforce with scientific literacy is a major challenge that takes time.
