Humanity faces a climate crisis that poses a threat to the survival of the species. How we negotiate the future will determine whether humanity survives and in which manner. A large factor in who survives will be decided by success or failure in war. In this talk, Dr Albert Palazzo will consider climate change from the perspective of national survival. He will outline the threat climate change poses to the operation of human-made systems on which humanity depends and the risks their destabilisation poses for civilisation. Lastly, he will suggest what Australia must do if it is to remain a viable society in a future that promises to be more dangerous and violent than any other period in recent memory.

Dr Palazzo is an exceptional thinker and well respected within the Defence community. His presentation will provide the perfect opportunity to consider and debate what the future might bring for Australia and the impacts that climate change will have on Australia’s strategic environment and the globe at large. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

About the speaker

Dr Palazzo he joined the Australian Army as a researcher in the Land Warfare Studies Centre. His Ph.D. is from The Ohio State University where he studied with Professors Allan Millett and Williamson Murray. His thesis was published as Seeking Victory on The Western Front: The British Army & Chemical Warfare in World War I. He has published widely on the history of the Australian Army and the contemporary character of war. His major works include The Australian Army: A History of its Organisation, 1901-2001; Moltke to bin Laden: The Relevance of Doctrine in Contemporary Military Environment, The Australian Army in Vietnam, The Future of War Debate in Australia, and Forging Australian Land Power, A Primer. His current research is on climate change and the emergence of a modern 2,000 kilometre-killing zone. He has also published widely on Multi-Domain Operations.

Drinks and light finger food will be provided.