Perspectives from a Climate Security Fellow

By Marina Lesse, Faculty Associate-Research, Energy Academic Group

Climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity, with impacts being felt throughout the world. It will take effort, initiative, and collaboration across many sectors of every industry to tackle this pressing challenge. Shaping the perspective of young minds and researchers who face the impacts of climate change is advantageous to both the civilian and military sectors. Combining those two populations introduces new ideas and solutions that strengthen humanity’s chances to stop the devestating outcomes of climatic disasters.

Over the past year, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in the Joint Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) and Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability’s Climate Security Fellows program. The program is organized through an Education Partnership Agreement between the two schools, and aims to enrich graduate students experiences by creating a space to learn about and discuss issues in climate change, national security, and sustainability. Throughout the academic year, numerous subject matter experts have delivered presentations to the cohort on a wide variety of climate and security issues.

This opportunity for both military and civilian students to learn together and interact opens the door for thought provoking and diverse conversation around the challenges of climate change. The program brings together like-minded individuals who—as fellows—provide valuable insight and diverse perspectives on the topic. Some of us are civilians in defense careers; some are students attending Stanford’s graduate programs; and others are active duty military personnel attending the NPS. Each of us has a unique background and offers diverse solutions and ideas that others may not have thought of, such as connecting the dots between marine biology and human food security.

I believe the communication fostered by programs like this and its members will bring about real world solutions to our most pressing problems. While the fellowship only lasts a year, I hope each fellow will bring the knowledge and lessons learned from this program to their future Command or workplace over the course of their career.

The Joint NPS and Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability’s Climate Security Fellows Program will wrap up its pilot year in spring of 2024. The Fellowship will end with a joint report on pressing topics of the cohort’s choosing. The next cohort of Climate Security Fellows will begin in the fall.

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Contact Marina Lesse at marina.lesse@nps.edu to learn more about the Climate Security Fellows Program.