Climate Change on the Battlefield

International Military Responses to the Climate Crisis

Climate Change on the Battlefield cover

Climate Change on the Battlefield

International Military Responses to the Climate Crisis

Description

What do rising temperatures and increasing extreme weather events mean for military readiness? How will climate hazards affect the conflicts of today and tomorrow? What new missions are militaries undertaking in response?

Climate Change on the Battlefield examines how climate change is reshaping modern military operations, and the role of international militaries in responding to the effects of the climate crisis. The book's international case study approach will provide concrete answers to these questions, looking at specific geographies such as Afghanistan and the Arctic, as well as types of military operations, including firefighting, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions. The book also explores in detail how different countries from across every continent, and international institutions, are responding to these threats while also critically assessing their own emissions and contributions to the climate crisis. Differing country responses are assessed, from those that are integrating climate change impacts into a more traditional understanding of military roles, to those countries that are redefining the role of the military in the face of climate change. Finally, it examines whether or not current military responses are commensurate with the risks ahead and what form the future relationship between the military and climate breakdown is likely to take.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Section I: How Climate Change Reshapes the Battlefield
Ch 1: Before the Fight: Climate Change Effects on Readiness
Ch 2: Today's Challenges: Climate Hazards Impact Existing Areas of Concern
Ch 3: Tomorrow's Concerns: Climate Change Creates New Missions

Section II: How Militaries Are Responding

Ch 4: Integrators: Bringing Mitigation and Adaptation Into Existing Strategy
Ch 5: Redefiners: New Definition of Military Purpose
Ch 6: A Country Apart: United States
Ch 7: Partners: International Alliances

Section III: Key Gaps and Opportunities

Ch 8: What's Missing
Ch 9: Questions for the Future
Ch 10: Conclusion

Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published 26 Jun 2025
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Extent 176
ISBN 9781350407688
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Series Studies in Contemporary Warfare
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Erin Sikorsky

Erin Sikorsky directs the Center for Climate and S…

ONLINE RESOURCES

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