#84 | Sherri Goodman - Sherri Goodman: How to Stop Climate-Driven Conflicts Before They Start
🎧 Full Episode: YouTube | Apple Podcasts | Spotify
When Sherri Goodman, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Environmental Security, joined the Senate Armed Services Committee as one of the first female professional staff members, she embarked on a path that would eventually transform her into a leading voice in environmental security. Sherri's profound journey through government service, her work on environmental peacebuilding, and her coined term “threat multiplier” have reshaped how we understand the intersection of climate change and national security.
Sherri Goodman’s illustrious career includes groundbreaking work at the Pentagon and beyond, where she helped integrate environmental and climate considerations into defense policies and practices. Her latest book, Threat Multiplier: Climate, Military Leadership, and the Fight for Global Security, provides a critical exploration of the challenges and opportunities at this intersection, offering a roadmap for a more secure future in the face of accelerating climate risks.
In this episode, Sherri delves into her motivations, the lessons she has learned, and the complex realities of environmental conservation and security. Her experience provides a unique lens through which we can better understand the global impact of climate change and the critical need for proactive measures.
“Climate change is not just an environmental issue, it's a national security issue, and it's one that requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach.” — Sherri Goodman
Sherri’s work has not only been about addressing environmental challenges within the military but also about fostering international cooperation on environmental issues. Her efforts have spanned from the cleanup of nuclear waste sites like Rocky Mountain Arsenal to initiating the Arctic Military Environmental Cooperation Program with Norway and Russia—an era of collaboration that has since evolved into a competition for resources in the rapidly changing Arctic.
Sherri’s remarkable career and her passionate advocacy for environmental security offer a compelling narrative that is both inspiring and urgent. Her book is a call to action for all of us to recognize the profound impact of climate change on global stability and to take meaningful steps toward securing a more resilient future.
In this episode, Sherri discusses:
Her early career: Joining the Senate Armed Services Committee in her late 20s and overseeing nuclear weapons facilities during the Cold War.
The concept of "threat multiplier": How climate change amplifies existing risks, from destabilizing regions to exacerbating global security threats.
Environmental peacebuilding: The crucial role of cooperation across borders and military engagement in fostering peace through environmental initiatives.
The shifting politics of environmentalism: How climate change, once a bipartisan issue, became deeply politicized and the ongoing battle to integrate climate considerations into defense strategies.
The existential threat of climate change: Sherri's insights into the urgent need for action and the role of the military in leading the charge toward a more secure and sustainable future.
