Climate change is a major security threat but old and bold don’t get it

CLIMATE change was a ‘sleeper issue’ for ageing defence brass, but a former Chief of Defence said those that get it want to start talking about it.

Professor Will Steffen during the address at the climate security summit at ADFA in Canberra. Picture: Gary Ramage

CLIMATE change was a ‘sleeper issue’ for ageing defence brass because potential security impacts were 20 to 30 years away according to former Chief of Defence retired Admiral Chris Barrie.

Speaking at a Climate Security summit at the Australian Defence Force Academy Admiral Barrie, who is an adjunct professor at the Australian National University, said older military leaders tended to downplay the potential risk from climate change.

“I think there are a lot of people in the 40-year-old and under group who get it [climate change] and understand it,” he said.

“They are looking for somebody to tell them it is okay to talk about it.

“Tomorrow might come and it might look worse than anything we ever predicted.”

During a Senate Estimates hearing last week Defence Chief Mark Binskin focused on the humanitarian aspects of climate change when he was asked why Australia had not followed the US and UK in appointing a senior climate change officer.

Australian Defence Force personnel prepare to board a No. 36 Squadron C-17A Globemaster aircraft headed to Nepal to provide assistance. Picture: ADF

“I will be upfront with you and say that we do not specifically plan for climate change, but we do plan for the consequences of it - humanitarian assistance and those sorts of particular areas,’ Air Chief Marshal Binskin said.

“Whether it be flood, rain, famine, earthquakes or civil unrest and all of that—that is what we plan for.”

A major report on climate security and defence released last week slammed Australia for dragging the chain.

“Increasingly, Australia is out of step with its allies in preparing for climate change, exposing Australian soldiers, sailors and air force personnel, as well as Australia more broadly, to the considerable strategic risk and uncertainty climate change brings,” the report said.

Professor Will Steffen during the address at ADFA in Canberra. The Australian Climate Security Panel (Former ADF chief Chris Barrie, retired US Rear Admiral and climate security expert David Titley, former UK climate and energy security envoy Rear Admiral Neil Morissetti (ret.) and climate scientist Professor Will Steffen during the address at ADFA in Canberra. Wednesday 28 Oct 2015. Picture: Gary Ramage

Admiral Barrie said climate change was a major threat multiplier that required more than just humanitarian responses.

The risks include areas such as soldiers operating for extended periods in temperatures above 50 degrees or lengthy naval deployments to the Antarctic region.

Admiral Barrie said food and water security would be crucial threat multipliers in the years ahead.

“If people are hungry and they blame you for the problem — watch out,” he said.

“If the Himalayan glacier disappears and India and China, Bangladesh and Pakistan have no freshwater that is a huge problem.”

Also speaking at the summit climate scientist Will Steffen told the audience that included numerous officer cadets that sea levels would rise by up to one metre by 2100.

“That increases the instance of coastal flooding by a factor of 10,000,” Professor Steffen said.

Retired US Rear Admiral and climate security expert David Titley during the address at ADFA in Canberra. The Australian Climate Security Panel (Former ADF chief Chris Barrie, retired US Rear Admiral and climate security expert David Titley, former UK climate and energy security envoy Rear Admiral Neil Morissetti (ret.) and climate scientist Professor Will Steffen during the address at ADFA in Canberra. Wednesday 28 Oct 2015. Picture: Gary Ramage

He pointed out that should the Greenland ice sheet melt then sea levels would rise by seven metres.

Professor Steffen said Syria was a prime example of the potential security impact of climate change given it had endured a major drought at a time when oil prices were up and refugees flooded into the country.

Former US Navy Rear Admiral David Titley said climate change was above all a ‘people’ issue.

“It is about our families, our children, our towns and villages,” he said.

Former UK climate and energy security envoy retired Rear Admiral Neil Morissetti. The Australian Climate Security Panel (Former ADF chief Chris Barrie, retired US Rear Admiral and climate security expert David Titley, former UK climate and energy security envoy Rear Admiral Neil Morissetti (ret.) and climate scientist Professor Will Steffen during the address at ADFA in Canberra. Wednesday 28 Oct 2015. Picture: Gary Ramage

He also highlighted the strategic risks when he said that the crucial Indian Ocean military base at Diego Garcia would disappear if sea levels rose by 1.5 metres.

Former Royal Navy Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti said climate change was a global issue and it required a global solution.

He said there was no security solution.

“If we don’t act now we will ensure a more unstable world in the future.”