The Center for Climate and Security

The Center for Climate and Security is a solutions-oriented, bridge-building research institute focused on tackling systemic climate and ecological security risks. We break down silos across disciplines to ensure climate change considerations are integrated into security policies and security concerns are integrated into climate policy, both in the United States and countries around the globe. We facilitate interdisciplinary policy development, conduct groundbreaking research and analysis, and host resources and communities of practice on the intersection of climate change and security challenges.

Lines Of Effort

  • Research and Analysis: We conduct forward-leaning research and publish analysis to examine the impact of climate change on a range of national and international security issues. Our policy-relevant research seeks to translate between disciplinary divides, including on how climate change is exacerbating conflict risk; compounding food, water, and human insecurity; straining institutions, and reshaping geopolitics. 
  • Policy Engagement: We develop policies for governments and other stakeholders to better address the climate-security nexus, educate policymakers, and track implementation. We convene and engage policymakers and practitioners publicly and privately for discussions, events, and tabletop exercises. We are pragmatic without losing sight of the transformative changes required by climate change. 
  • Professional Community Development: We offer training, host resources, and cultivate professional communities and networks to develop the security workforce required by a changing climate. These include the Climate Security Working Group (a network of US academics, government officials, NGO analysts, and others), the International Military Council on Climate and Security (an international consortium of security institutions and leaders), and fellowship programs for young people in climate and ecological security. We also act as a resource hub for key climate security documents from governments and international institutions.  

The Center for Climate and Security is a non-partisan institute of the Council on Strategic Risks, a non-profit organization. It was founded in 2010 by Francesco Femia and Caitlin Werrell.

Website: For more, visit the Center for Climate and Security website.

Team: See the Center for Climate and Security team here.

Featured Projects and Initiatives

The Military Responses to Climate Hazards Tracker (MiRCH)

Tracking the deployment of military and paramilitary personnel and equipment in response to natural hazards exacerbated by climate change, worldwide.

Feeding Resilience: Food Security and Climate Change Impacts on National Security

Framed under the twin premises that international stability is foundational to U.S. national security and that food security is foundational to stability.

Climate Risks: Fusing Security, Science, and Storytelling

CCS has partnered with scientists at the Woodwell Climate Research Center and regional experts to examine climate security risks in key locations.

Recent content from CCS

For a full list of CCS content, see here.