Climate change is no longer just an environmental issue, it’s a national security threat. Sherri Goodman, the Pentagon’s first Chief Environmental Officer, takes us inside the U.S. military’s evolving response to the world’s greatest security risk.
Once focused on the Soviet nuclear threat, the Department of Defense now recognizes that a warming planet amplifies every danger: extreme weather events, resource scarcity, terrorism, and geopolitical competition from Russia and China. Today, climate considerations shape war games, disaster relief, diplomacy, and even the design of military bases.
Drawing on her pioneering leadership, join us in exploring how the armed forces have become unexpected leaders in clean energy and climate preparedness. She shares what keeps today’s generals awake at night—and how we can protect both our national defense and our planet.x
About the Speaker
Sherri Goodman is a global authority on the intersection of sustainability and national security. Recognized as one of the most influential voices on climate, energy, environment, and public health risks, she has shaped how governments and militaries confront emerging global challenges.
As the Pentagon’s first Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environmental Security, Goodman spearheaded efforts that transformed the Department of Defense into a leader in sustainability, climate resilience, and advanced energy. Today, she continues her impact as Secretary General of the International Military Council on Climate & Security, Distinguished Fellow at the Atlantic Council, and Senior Fellow at the Harvard Arctic Initiative.
Her book, Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security, offers a rare inside perspective, from the Pentagon to the battlefield, on how the military is confronting climate change, driving the energy transition, navigating technological disruption, and responding to new health challenges.