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The 2015 National Security Strategy Essay

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1. POLICY DECISION AND OBJECTIVES. The 2015 National Security Strategy (NSS) identifies climate change as a top strategic risk and seeks “to shape standards for prevention, preparedness, and response over the next decade”. On 3 September 2016, the United States (U.S.) and China ratified the 2015 United Nations (UN) Paris Agreement on climate change. A month later, the European Union (EU) followed suit, building international momentum to combat climate change. The President of the United States (POTUS) released, Presidential Memorandum – Climate Change and National Security on 21 September 2016. It directs Federal agencies to consider climate change impacts in all national security doctrine, policies, and plans. To maintain momentum into the next administration, the memorandum also requires agencies to specify climate change consideration objectives, milestones, and timelines by 21 December 2016 and to provide an implementation plan by 21 February 2017.
2. BACKGROUND / NATIONAL INTERESTS. In June 2013, POTUS released The President’s Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan organizes and directs executive action regarding climate change, based on three pillars: (1) cutting carbon pollution in America, (2) preparing the U.S. for the impacts of climate change, and (3) leading international efforts to combat global climate change and prepare for its impacts. Five months later, POTUS issued Executive Order (EO) 13643 Preparing the United States for the Impact of Climate

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