Applying a national security lens to the International Court’s climate change opinion

Abstract

Reportedly, there were “gasps in the courtroom” when the International Court of Justice delivered its advisory opinion on climate change earlier this year, and its ramifications may yet extend beyond that courtroom into the realms of national security.

Climate change is widely recognised as a national security risk. Successive defence planning strategies have identified climate change as such. For example, the 2023 Defence Strategic Review observed that “climate change will increase the challenges for Australia and Defence” and that climate events have “negatively affected force preparedness, readiness and combat effectiveness.” And, further afield, as observed by Tom Middendrop in the Climate General. Show more