Global Security Depends on Climate Change Mitigation.

The National Security, Military and Intelligence Panel (NSMIP) of the Center for Climate and Security released a report warning the public of “high-to-catastrophic” threats to domestic and global security originating from climactic changes. Consisting of representatives from national security, military, and intelligence fields, the panel analyzed security impacts of global warming and identified major threats to the U.S. defense, critical infrastructure, and security institutions. Drawing upon the most recent empirical research, the authors determine that “even at scenarios of low warming, each region of the world will face severe risks to national and global security in the next three decades.”

Book Review: Climate Change and Sea Level Rise in South Florida: The View of Coastal Residents, by Risa Palm and Toby Bolsen. Published by Springer Nature, Jan. 2020; ebook is $103.

Reviewer: Rob Dale is a planner for the Ingham County (Michigan) Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and meteorologist with Skywatch Services, LLC.

This book analyzes the climate change from a unique perspective – analyzing the opinions of residents in a part of the country that will be impacted quite dramatically from the warming atmosphere. South Florida has already felt some of the effects of anthropogenic climate change from higher sea levels causing a rash of “blue sky” flooding events. Research from Palm and Bosen reveals what residents consider to be their primary risks due to climate change, and then tests the use of flood maps to see if exposure to that type of information increased awareness of future impacts.

Chapter 2 explains climate change science and the effects of global warming. This is a brief high-level overview suitable for readers of any science background. Complex topics are simplified just enough to provide an understanding of the causes of a warming atmosphere, and the authors did not dwell in the details. This section concludes with specific impacts caused by climate change as a result of sea-level rise in south Florida.

Chapter 3 delves into the partisan and polarized nature of the climate change discussion. An overview of the political atmosphere gives some understanding regarding why conservative Republicans (who initially supported the science) began to dispute the scientific consensus. The value in this book being so new is that events in the Trump presidential administration are addressed, which increases the understanding of the current political environment. This chapter concludes with a topic that could stand on its own – “strategic messaging to influence climate change beliefs.” While it might seem like climate change communication simply requires educating people on the science behind it, social science research shows that simply pushing out facts does not sway opinions. The authors present guidance on strategically framing messages as well as consideration for prior beliefs, group identities, and cultural worldviews.

Chapter 4 is an overview of the south Florida area, both geographically and culturally, which leads to the study itself in Chapter 5. Roughly 1000 people were surveyed about their thoughts on climate change impacts and the cause of a warming environment. In general, a majority believes that the climate is changing primarily due to human activity, but most do not believe their homes are at risk nor do they think property values will go down as a result of worse flooding.

Chapter 6 focuses on risk communication and the impacts messaging has on opinions of south Florida residents. Half of those interviewed were shown flood maps from FloodIQ.com which plotted the projected impact from a Category 3 hurricane making landfall in 2033. This provided what I found to be the most fascinating tidbit – people who saw those maps showing worse flooding in the future became less likely to say that climate change is occurring (especially among Republicans!) The strongest predictor regarding opinions on future impacts was political party affiliation. The next chapter expands on the survey to give five specific examples of homeowners who feel they are safe from flooding yet whose homes actually are threatened. Their age, party identification, ideology, and education are all analyzed to show the real-world impacts of threat messaging.

The concluding chapter offers some direct guidance for planners and others who work in mitigation fields. The researched also asked about support for efforts that would reduce climate change impacts. Data shows that there is support for projects like increasing building set-backs, along with flood barriers and sea walls. However there is less enthusiasm for measures that would increase direct costs to homeowners.

It was not a long read and the authors did a great job giving enough science and background information to set the topic up without turning it into a science textbook. The information on messaging along with mitigation were the two primary takeaways for me as a communicator and planner. I would highly recommend this to anyone who works in areas susceptible to coastal flooding or other impacts from climate change.

From Bloomberg news, this analysis of the major money promise made by Jeff Bezo re Climate Adaptation: What Bezos’s $10 Billion Can Do for the Climate Fight

Update on Feb. 19: Four Questions re Bezo’s Pledge,

Update on Feb.21: 10B. Is Not going to Solve Climate Change

The Center for Climate and Security has released the “World Climate and Security Report 2020,” which details the global security risks caused by climate change.

While the impacts and specific challenges each nation faces varies, the availability of resources, such as food and water, are common issues across all regions. In addition to this, countries that are already unstable will likely see an increase in internal conflict, as well as migration of their citizens to more stable areas. Even relatively stable regions, such as Europe and North America, will have to contend with the social, economic, and safety concerns posed by climate change issues such as “heat impacts, flood risks and forest fires.”

According to the report, “100% of the climate security risks assessed will increase in the next twenty years (2020-2040).” In order to mitigate these effects, countries are assessing the risks posed by climate change and developing resiliency plans from both a national security and a foreign policy perspective.

From the LA Times: Across the U.S., states are bracing for more climate-related disasters. Some excerpts:

The federal government is looking ahead as well. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is operating a $16-billion program to help coastal states prepare for natural disasters, a shift from the typical funding model of providing money after disasters have happened.

Even states whose leaders don’t publicly acknowledge the existence of climate change, such as Texas and South Carolina, have applied for federal dollars citing “changing coastal conditions” or “unpredictability,” the New York Times reported.

From The Conversation: ‘Sea-level rise won’t affect my house’ – even flood maps don’t sway Florida coastal residents

From GA State Univ.: Politics Overrule Science in At-Risk Coastal Residents’ Public Attitudes about Climate Change.  

Despite scientific evidence that rising sea levels due to climate change are a threat to property and lives, science plays second fiddle to politics in public attitudes about climate change and mitigation policies among coastal area residents most likely to be affected, according to urban geographer Risa Palm and political scientist Toby Bolsen of Georgia State University.

“Are these homeowners aware or concerned about their risk? Do they support policies and laws designed to mitigate the pace and extent of climate change that would, in turn, slow sea level rise?” are some questions they ask in their new book, “Climate Change and Sea Level Rise in South Florida: The View of Coastal Residents,” (Springer 2020).

Thanks to Chris Jones for the citation.

Special Note:  The Diva had an ebook version (140 pp.) and found a reader willing to do a book review. Watch for that review in a month or so.

From CNN: On climate, Trump is guilty of willful ignorance.  One excerpt:

The latest affront occurs in the Federal Emergency Management Administration’s recently released National Preparedness Report. The annual report — mandated by Congress to help state and local governments, as well as the private sector, understand the nation’s efforts to prepare for the gravest threats and hazards it faces — glibly omits any mention of climate change.

From InsideClimateNews: U.S. Military Precariously Unprepared for Climate Threats, War College & Retired Brass Warn. National security and service members’ lives are at stake, and working under a president who rejects science and ignores climate risks isn’t helping.