Climate Change and Nuclear Developments: A Growing Security Nexus

Climate and nuclear trends are intertwining around the world in myriad ways. This article explores the growing nexus by highlighting classic nuclear weapons states, emerging nuclear power programs, and the changing geostrategic nuclear supplier set. In each of these examples, there are climate impacts that add a multifaceted layer to regional geopolitical dynamics. In many cases, such countries are already grappling with rapid population growth, political turmoil, technological changes, and resource insecurity. Nuclear strategies that include a climate dimension are critical to mitigate the confluence of stressors that could drastically increase the risk of instability, nuclear miscalculation, and other devastating disasters. It would be reckless not to consider the potential dangers such pathways could present to global security.