The Lawfare Podcast Lawfare Daily: Climate Security During the Trump Administration
Apr 9, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Erin Sikorsky, Director of the Center for Climate Security, delves into climate change as a pressing national security issue. She highlights the surprising omission of climate risks in the Annual Threat Assessment during the Trump administration. Sikorsky discusses the negative implications of neglecting climate security for military readiness and international collaborations. She emphasizes how natural disasters challenge troop morale and the importance of integrating climate considerations into U.S. defense policies for future resilience.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Politicization of Climate Security
- Climate change omission from the threat assessment reflects increasing politicization.
- This omission signals a de-prioritization of climate security by the intelligence community.
Climate Change as a National Security Risk
- Climate change affects national security through food/water insecurity, impacting stability and conflict.
- It also creates direct threats like military base damage from extreme weather events.
Military Base Vulnerability
- Military bases in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana are vulnerable to hurricanes.
- Resilience efforts focus on fortifying these bases against natural disasters.