Sign in Subscribe
Congressional representatives

Reintroduced Legislation Seeks to Assess Climate Change's Economic and National Security Effects

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Representatives Scott Peters (CA-50) and Jason Crow (CO-6) have reintroduced the National Security Climate Intelligence Act (NSCIA), which would require the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to evaluate the economic and national security effects of climate change. The legislation aims to provide Congress with a comprehensive report on the impacts of climate change, every four years after its passage and every six years thereafter.

The bill seeks to address the growing concerns about climate change's impact on national security, as highlighted by the original National Intelligence Estimate on Climate Change (NIECC). The NIECC assessed that climate change would increasingly exacerbate risks to US national security interests as the physical impacts intensified and geopolitical tensions mounted. The report emphasized the need for a thorough understanding of the economic and national security effects of climate change to inform decision-making.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Security Climate Intelligence Act (NSCIA) aims to equip the US intelligence community with the tools needed to provide objective analysis of the impact of climate change on security and strategic interests.
  • The bill seeks to require the Director of National Intelligence to provide Congress with a comprehensive report on the economic and national security effects of climate change, every four years after its passage and every six years thereafter.
  • The legislation aims to address the growing concerns about climate change's impact on national security, as highlighted by the original National Intelligence Estimate on Climate Change (NIECC).
  • The NIECC assessed that climate change would increasingly exacerbate risks to US national security interests as the physical impacts intensified and geopolitical tensions mounted.
  • Key judgments from the NIECC included:

+ Geopolitical tensions are likely to grow as countries argue about how to accelerate reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions to meet the Paris Agreement goals.

+ The increasing physical effects of climate change will exacerbate cross-border geopolitical flashpoints as states take steps to secure their interests.

+ Scientific forecasts indicate that intensifying physical effects of climate change will be most acutely felt in developing countries, which are also the least able to adapt to such changes.

Statistics:

  • 2030: A growing risk of conflict over water and migration, particularly after 2030.
  • 2040: Intensifying physical effects of climate change out to 2040 and beyond will be most acutely felt in developing countries.

Sources:

  • United States House of Representatives -- Congressman Scott Peters (52nd District of California)
  • FP4A Senior Climate Policy Advisor Alex Stapleton
  • Former Bush Administration Chair of the National Intelligence Council Robert Hutchings
  • Contify.com
  • Multimedia Investments Ltd.
  • The original National Intelligence Estimate on Climate Change (NIECC)

Read more