National Security and the Threat of Climate Change

The Institute for Public Research at CNA Corp., a non-profit research and analysis organization in Alexandria, VA has published a new white paper - National Security and the Threat of Climate Change.  The national security-climate change nexus is gaining more attention and traction.  From natural and humanitarian disasters on a scale beyond those we see today, to stressing already fragile economic and political systems in may parts of the world, to maintenance and operation activities in and around low-lying coastal areas, to new strategic objectives in places like the Artic, to less fuel and training opportunities - when the Department of Defense starts thinking about the ramifications of climate change, the rest of us would be wise to also start thinking about various climate change scenarios.

Engineering needs to get better about thinking and coping with environmental risks.  When you examine SEC filings, less than 2/3 of insurance companies made any climate-change disclosures in 2012.  This from an industry that has considerable risk exposure - they collectively paid out $30 billion after Hurricane Sandy.