Climate Change: Considerations for Geographic Combatant Commands PKSOI Paper | Page 10

CLIMATE CHANGE: CONSIDERATIONS
FOR GEOGRAPHIC COMBATANT
COMMANDS
We [the Joint Force] must better identify opportunities that generate the greatest advantages and results
using the right tools, in the right places, and with the
right partners.
—Gen. Martin E. Dempsey
18th Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff1

Climate change is a national security issue that
all geographic combatant commanders (GCCs) must
consider as a challenge, and in some cases, an opportunity as they continuously assess risks and update their
theater campaign plans to gain advantage in achieving their desired end-states. Not only must GCCs assess climate change impacts to U.S. operations from
specific risks to force-employment supporting infrastructure; but, they should also assess the opportunities that exist to further international partnerships by
supporting and coordinating with the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID) as it carries
out specific development mandates within its Global
Climate Change Initiative. By doing so, GCCs will
follow CJCS Dempsey’s guidance by turning climate
change risk into an “opportunity” to leverage the
“right tools” to enhance relationships with “the right
partners.” This paper will focus on the risks and opportunities for action specific to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) as a “case-study” useful for any
GCC addressing Department of Defense’s recent climate change adaptation guidance and for advancing
the dialogue that took place during DoD’s September
2014 Combatant Command Climate Security Information
Exchange.2
1