National secur it y

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

12

★

★

Confront Climate Change  

Climate change is an urgent and growing threat to our national security, contributing to increased 

natural disasters, refugee flows, and conflicts over basic resources like food and water. The present day 

effects of climate change are being felt from the Arctic to the Midwest. Increased sea levels and storm 

surges threaten coastal regions, infrastructure, and property. In turn, the global economy suffers, com-

pounding the growing costs of preparing and restoring infrastructure. 

America is leading efforts at home and with the international community to confront this challenge. 

Over the last 6 years, U.S. emissions have declined by a larger total magnitude than those of any other 

country. Through our Climate Action Plan and related executive actions, we will go further with a goal 

of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 26 to 28 percent of 2005 levels by 2025. Working with U.S. 

states and private utilities, we will set the first-ever standards to cut the amount of carbon pollution our 

power plants emit into the air. We are also working to strengthen resilience and address vulnerabilities 

to climate impacts.

These domestic efforts contribute to our international leadership. Building on the progress made in 

Copenhagen and in ensuing negotiations, we are working toward an ambitious new global climate 

change agreement to shape standards for prevention, preparedness, and response over the next decade. 

As the world’s two largest emitters, the United States and China reached a landmark agreement to take 

significant action to reduce carbon pollution. The substantial contribution we have pledged to the Green 

Climate Fund will help the most vulnerable developing nations deal with climate change, reduce their 

carbon pollution, and invest in clean energy. More than 100 countries have also joined with us to reduce 

greenhouse gases under the Montreal Protocol—the same agreement the world used successfully to 

phase out ozone-depleting chemicals. We are partnering with African entrepreneurs to launch clean 

energy projects and helping farmers practice climate-smart agriculture and plant more durable crops. 

We are also driving collective action to reduce methane emissions from pipelines and to launch a free 

trade agreement for environmental goods.