The inadequate US response to a major security threat: Climate change

The inadequate US response to a major security threat: Climate change

from Web Edition | Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists by Francesco Femia

Over recent decades, the United States has dedicated enormous resources -- in terms of money, manpower and national credibility -- to reducing the threat posed by weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and the global economic crisis. These commitments have been made not necessarily because the potential dangers are expected to materialize often -- many of them are low-probability risks -- but because the consequences if they do are so large as to be considered unacceptable.