Climate Change And Economic Stresses
State failures can have direct and indirect effects on U.S. national security and international interests. Indirectly, state failure is contrary to the United States' interest in a stable world in we can trade, travel and cooperate. And for America's military, state failure has direct implications for demands for U.S. equipment, logistics and even troops.Economic disruptions associated with climate change are projected by the CIA and other intelligence experts to place increased pressure on weak nations, who may be unable to provide basic needs and maintain order for their citizens. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates annual costs from severe weather in damage to property and loss of economic productivity for the United States to be in the tens of billions of dollars
While it will likely remain difficult to ascribe with 100 percent certainty a direct causal relationship between global climate change and economic and state failures, a growing number of scientific and military experts are concerned that anticipated environmental changes will exacerbate some of the central challenges facing weak economies and failing states. The prospect of an increased number of failed states is a real concern to the U.S. military.
Additional Information
- Annual Threat Assessment of the Intelligence Community for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence - Dennis C. Blair, Director of National Intelligence
- National Security and the Threat of Climate Change - CNA
- Global Trends 2025: The National Intelligence Council's 2025 Project
