Strauss Center Distinguished Scholar Dr. Joshua Busby contributed to an article in Scientific American, titled “Serious Changes Possible for National Security Policies on Climate Change.” In Dave Levitan’s article, President Elect Donald Trump’s national security appointments are the focus of a discussion on the future of the relationship between climate change and national security at the policy-making level of government. Dr. Busby argues that the national security appointees known thus far could undo the gains made in addressing the linkage between climate change and national security.

The National Intelligence Council, according to Busby, might not continue the ongoing practice of commissioning climate and security studies. However, climate change mitigation efforts like raising Naval Station Norfolk are unlikely to cease being priorities among top military professionals, and thus, the incoming president might face some resistance in scrapping climate change assessments throughout the whole of the national security apparatus. Although future investments could be postponed or eliminated, the importance of climate change risk mitigation to the professional bureaucracy within the Department of Defense makes the subject an interesting one to watch in the coming months as other high-level national security appointments are made.