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Seminar: Dr. Michael Klare on Climate Change, National Security, and the U.S. Military
May 2, 2023 @ 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
In his first “Message to the Force,” delivered to all employees of the Department of Defense on March 4, 2021, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin avowed that “we will elevate climate as a national security priority, integrating climate considerations into the Department’s policies, strategies, and partner agreements…. We will bolster mission resilience and deploy solutions that optimize capability and reduce our own carbon footprint. Where possible, we will seek to lead the way for alternative climate-considered approaches for the country” (emphasis added).
Austin’s declaration raises many interesting and important questions: How did the Department of Defense (DoD) — normally focused on enemy forces and intentions — come to view climate change as a “national security priority”? What, exactly, does the DoD mean when it calls climate change a “national security priority”? What is the Department doing to enhance “mission resilience” and reduce its carbon footprint? How will the Pentagon’s commitment to climate change adaptation and mitigation when it is hyper-focused on preparations for war with China?
Each of these questions merits careful examination, and in his seminar presentation, Prof. Klare will address each of them in turn, offering his views on the topic and inviting feedback and discussion by seminar participants.
Please contact Learning and Events Coordinator Claire Sadar if you are interested in attending.