As ex-Service members and experienced security and emergency services practitioners whose life’s work has been dedicated to protecting Australians, we have witnessed up-close the devastating impacts of war and worsening emergencies. In our considered view, while great power contestation and a range of governance related challenges demand attention, climate change now represents the greatest threat to the future security of the Australian people.
The Australian Government has initiated an urgent climate–security risk assessment in line with its pre-election climate policy commitment. This is a necessary, positive and long-overdue step.
It presents a unique opportunity to understand the full range of climate change threats that Australia, and our near region, will face. These have the capacity to overwhelm our capacity to respond and to ravage our way of life and our livelihoods. Getting this risk assessment right is crucial to getting Australia’s response to climate change right. In particular, we emphasise the following key requirements:
We stand willing to share our expertise, experiences and insights with the assessment team.
Former Chief, Australian Defence Force (Retd)
Deputy Chief, Royal Australian Air Force (Retd)
Australian Army (Retd)
Australian Army (Retd)
Royal Australian Navy (Retd)
Royal Australian Air Force (Retd)
Royal Canadian Navy (Retd)
Australian Army (Retd)
Royal Australian Air Force (Retd)
Former Director of Preparedness and Mobilisation, Australian Department of Defence
Former Director of War Studies, Australian Army
Former Chair, Australian Coal Association
Associate Fellow Royal United Services Institute