ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses some of the advantages of military-to-military cooperation on environmental issues. It examines some of the steps that the US military and others have already taken to utilize environmental cooperation for security ends. The chapter offers some cautionary notes on how militaries should approach environmental challenges. It also examines individual examples of military-to-military cooperation on environmental issues and natural disasters. Protecting the environment and preparing for and responding to natural disasters are two nontraditional arenas in which militaries work with each other to advance security ends. Militaries increasingly view military-to-military cooperation on natural resources, environmental issues, and natural disasters as a means of achieving security ends. The US Congress now requires the integration of natural resource and environmental concerns into key national defense documents. Efficient coordination and quick responses to natural disasters or environmental crises are crucial to mitigating disruptions that could contribute to future instability.
