Missing in Action

Responding to Australia’s Climate & Security Failure

Future Warming Politics Food & Water Human Security

By Chris Barrie / Cheryl Durrant / Neil Greet / Michael Thomas

Climate risk is escalating, but Australia’s response is missing in action. This assessment reveals systemic failures in leadership, planning, and security strategy, leaving the nation dangerously exposed to accelerating threats.

Summary

Climate change now presents a grave, and potentially existential, threat to society and human security.
In vulnerable countries, governments have collapsed and civil wars have erupted, forcefully displacing millions of people looking for a safe haven.
Responding adequately to the climate threat is fundamental to the survival of the nation.
Australia has repeatedly ignored the risks and is ill-prepared for the security implications of devastating climate impacts at home and in the Asia-Pacific.
Australia is falling behind its allies, and is failing its responsibilities as a global citizen and its duty to protect its own people.
Focus should be on the root causes of climate warming, principally eliminating emissions much faster than proposed, rather than the symptoms.

The Climate Security Imperative

Climate change is a grave, potentially existential threat to Australian society and security. This report from the Australian Security Leaders Climate Group (ASLCG) warns that increasingly extreme events—droughts, floods, heatwaves, bushfires, and coastal flooding—are already causing instability and displacement globally, particularly in vulnerable nations. Australia, despite facing significant risks domestically and across the Asia-Pacific region, has failed to adequately assess or prepare for the security implications of these climate impacts. This neglect leaves the Australian Defence Force and emergency services overstretched and unready for future crises.

ASLCG criticises national leadership for being absent and ineffective, describing Australia as “missing in action” on climate-security risks. The report stresses that while the country lags behind its allies, solutions exist and urgent action is possible. The group calls for accelerated emission reductions and a comprehensive climate and security plan focusing on protecting people, preventing further harm, and preparing institutions for inevitable climate disruptions. The foundation of this effort must be a realistic, whole-of-nation risk assessment to guide effective policy and response.

Missing in Action: Responding to Australia’s climate & security failure, published in September 2021.

Army vehicles enter Townsville to help evacuate flood-affected people. Photograph: Getty Images

Australian Army helicopter flies over flooded Fitzroy River in northeast Queensland, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 8, 2011.

There is a pressing need to rethink global refugee governance to better support those displaced and fleeing from overwhelming climate-change impacts. Current governance structures are simply inadequate.

Chris Barrie

Former Defence Chief and Security Advocate

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