Before moving to Fairbanks, Alaska, I lived in Washington, DC, where I lobbied Congress for increased climate action on behalf of Friends Committee on National Legislation. Engaging on climate issues with Congressional offices often left me frustrated. I was annoyed that most members of Congress simply don’t prioritize climate change policy. But what is it that does continue to be prioritized, if not the greatest challenge of our generation? It was an issue that activated my shingles whenever it was mentioned: national security. I resented the term as a pacifist who witnessed how national security would be mentioned only by policymakers seeking an excuse to throw more dollars into the military-industrial complex. But now, far from Capitol Hill, I look at the issue differently. I hope to invite fellow Friends who advocate on behalf of the Earth to rethink the meaning of national security through the lens of climate stewardship, even if the future of the second Trump administration looks smoggy.
Where I live, in Alaska, communities are alarmingly vulnerable to climate disasters. People of Shishmaref are losing the ground under their feet due to higher sea levels, but the federal government still hasn’t found the money to move residents to a safer area. Americans across the country, including those affected by recent hurricanes in the South and wildfires in California, suffer from the unfortunate diversion of federal funds. In a time of alarming climate catastrophes, the current Administration must address those living in climate insecurity. While lawmakers continue sending weapons abroad, Americans are struggling to survive at home in a lack of safety and security, not caused by violence but by the federal government’s failure to provide resources for climate adaptation.
Like many Friends, I, too, reject the idea that military power defines national security; I believe we must consider other possible definitions of the term. We are secure if we have clean air and water and can afford a utility bill. We are secure if we don’t have to fear a typhoon or hurricane endangering the stability of our homes. Domestic climate security has for too long been compromised by our policymakers, who year after year appropriate billions of dollars to run America’s endless wars abroad. As people of faith, many of us are called to take care of creation and ensure prosperity and restoration of the Earth. We must continue advocating for climate policy during the second Trump administration, even if many of us currently feel disempowered.
Climate change presents a major threat to American security. But we cannot be discouraged or intimidated by the government’s inaction. We have to ask ourselves how our advocacy can positively impact those who do not have the time to write op-eds and speak with their representatives. Let’s rethink our words as we speak truth to power. Centering national security in our advocacy allows us to do just that.
Friends, whether you actively communicate with your members of Congress (or other elected officials), or even if you’ve never lobbied before, think about how your pro-climate voice can strengthen the security of communities nationwide. Consider how you can advocate to lower someone’s electricity bill or how a policy can improve a community’s housing stability. No matter who sits in the Oval Office, let’s advocate for national security legislation that prioritizes a safer Earth, not more weapons.
Jus Tavcar is a Quaker born in Ljubljana, Slovenia. He is a graduate student of Arctic and Northern Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and an alumnus of Earlham College. An advocate for climate justice, he is affiliated with the Chena Ridge Friends Meeting in Fairbanks, AK.