A group of former Australia defence and security leaders has launched a new proposal calling for A Climate-First Foreign Policy for Australia, warning that the nation’s current approach to foreign and security policy is dangerously out of date.
The Australia Security Leaders Climate Group (ASLCG) says the world has changed dramatically, and Australia must catch up – or risk being caught flat-footed in a world reshaped by climate chaos and geopolitical instability.
“Australia has put all its eggs in the AUKUS basket, risking entanglement in a war with China, while the far greater threat to Australians’ security is being ignored,” said former Defence Force Chief Admiral Chris Barrie (Ret.).
The ASLCG warns that climate disruption – not China – is the greatest threat to the future of Australians and the region. While the government has doubled down on traditional military alliances and security priorities, it has failed to invest in the diplomatic, economic, and humanitarian tools needed to respond to escalating climate-driven crises.
“Most parliamentarians we’ve spoken to say it’s climate change – not geopolitics – that keeps them awake at night when they think about their children and grandchildren,” said Admiral Barrie.
Recent warnings from Australian Antarctic scientists have confirmed that global warming could trigger a three-metre sea-level rise, threatening major Australian cities and coastlines. Meanwhile, unlivable heat in parts of Asia could displace over a billion people in the coming decades, creating security pressures Australia is not prepared for.
The ASLCG’s A Climate-First Foreign Policy for Australia says climate security should be put ahead of geopolitical confrontation, with a focus on peace-building and regional cooperation. It urges Australia to lead high-ambition alliances to phase out fossil fuel subsidies, end international fossil financing, and drive regional climate action.
The proposal supports climate-conditioned trade and investment tied to strong climate commitments, increased finance for vulnerable nations, legal reforms to address climate migration, and regular, transparent analysis of climate-security risks shared across the region.
“Security is not just about submarines and fighter jets — it’s about food, water, homes, and health,” said Cheryl Durrant, Former Director of Preparedness and Mobilisation, Australian Department of Defence. “Without climate security, there is no national security.”
The group also warns that Australia must step up at a time when global humanitarian systems are breaking down. With the termination of US humanitarian aid in early 2025, and the redirection of foreign aid toward defence budgets by other wealthy nations, global humanitarian agencies are being stretched to breaking point.
“We are entering an era of ‘polycrisis’ — where conflict, climate disasters, and economic shocks converge,” said ASLCG member Col Neil Greet Ret. “Australia must lead with foresight, not fear.”
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