---
kind: "section"
citation: "50 U.S.C. § 3060"
title: "50"
title_heading: "War and National Defense"
number: "3060"
heading: "Climate Security Advisory Council"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/50/3060"
units:
  - "Chapter 44 — National Security"
  - "Subchapter I — Coordination for National Security"
---

# §3060. Climate Security Advisory Council

- (a) **Establishment—** The Director of [National Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=5) shall establish a Climate Security Advisory [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) for the purpose of—
  - (1) assisting [intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) analysts of various elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) with respect to analysis of climate security and its impact on the areas of focus of such analysts;
  - (2) facilitating coordination between the elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) and elements of the Federal Government that are not elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) in collecting data on, and conducting analysis of, climate change and climate security; and
  - (3) ensuring that the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) is adequately prioritizing climate change in carrying out its activities.
- (b) **Composition of Council—**
  - (1) **Members—** The [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) shall be composed of the following individuals appointed by the Director of [National Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=5):
    - (A) An appropriate official from the [National Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=5) [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4), who shall chair the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4).
    - (B) The lead official with respect to climate and environmental security analysis from—
      - (i) the Central [Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) Agency;
      - (ii) the Bureau of [Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) and Research of the Department of State;
      - (iii) the National Geospatial-[Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) Agency;
      - (iv) the Office of [Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) and [Counterintelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=3) of the Department of Energy;
      - (v) the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for [Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) and Security; and
      - (vi) the Defense [Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) Agency.
    - (C) Three appropriate officials from elements of the Federal Government that are not elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) that are responsible for—
      - (i) providing decision makers with a predictive understanding of the climate;
      - (ii) making observations of our Earth system that can be used by the public, policymakers, and to support strategic decisions; or
      - (iii) coordinating Federal research and investments in understanding the forces shaping the global environment, both human and natural, and their impacts on society.
    - (D) Any other officials as the Director of [National Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=5) or the chair of the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) may determine appropriate.
  - (2) **Responsibilities of chair—** The chair of the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) shall have responsibility for—
    - (A) identifying agencies to supply individuals from elements of the Federal Government that are not elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4);
    - (B) securing the permission of the relevant agency heads for the participation of such individuals on the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4); and
    - (C) any other duties that the Director of [National Intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=5) may direct.
- (c) **Duties and responsibilities of Council—** The [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) shall carry out the following duties and responsibilities:
  - (1) To meet at least quarterly to—
    - (A) exchange appropriate data between elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) and elements of the Federal Government that are not elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4);
    - (B) discuss processes for the routine exchange of such data and implementation of such processes; and
    - (C) prepare summaries of the business conducted at each meeting.
  - (2) To assess and determine best practices with respect to the analysis of climate security, including identifying publicly available information and [intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) acquired through clandestine means that enables such analysis.
  - (3) To assess and identify best practices with respect to prior efforts of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) to analyze climate security.
  - (4) To assess and describe best practices for identifying and disseminating climate [intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) indications and warnings.
  - (5) To recommend methods of incorporating analysis of climate security and the best practices identified under paragraphs [(2)](#c-2) through [(4)](#c-4) into existing analytic training programs.
  - (6) To consult, as appropriate, with other elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) that conduct analysis of climate change or climate security and elements of the Federal Government that are not elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) that conduct analysis of climate change or climate security, for the purpose of sharing information about ongoing efforts and avoiding duplication of existing efforts.
  - (7) To work with elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) that conduct analysis of climate change or climate security and elements of the Federal Government that are not elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) that conduct analysis of climate change or climate security—
    - (A) to exchange appropriate data between such elements, establish processes, procedures and practices for the routine exchange of such data, discuss the implementation of such processes; and
    - (B) to enable and facilitate the sharing of findings and analysis between such elements.
  - (8) To assess whether the elements of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) that conduct analysis of climate change or climate security may inform the research direction of academic work and the sponsored work of the United States Government.
  - (9) At the discretion of the chair of the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4), to convene conferences of analysts and nonintelligence community personnel working on climate change or climate security on subjects that the chair shall direct.
- (d) **Annual report—**
  - (1) **Requirement—** Not later than January 31, 2021, and not less frequently than annually thereafter, the chair of the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) shall submit, on behalf of the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4), to the [congressional intelligence committees](/usc/50/3003.md?p=7) a report describing the activities of the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) as described in [subsection (c)](#c) during the year preceding the year during which the report is submitted.
  - (2) **Matters included—** Each report under [paragraph (1)](#d-1) shall include a description of any obstacles or gaps relating to—
    - (A) the [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) fulfilling its duties and responsibilities under [subsection (c)](#c); or
    - (B) the responsiveness of the [intelligence community](/usc/50/3003.md?p=4) to the climate security needs and priorities of the policymaking elements of the Federal Government.
- (e) **Sunset—** The [Council](/usc/50/3352.md?p=4) shall terminate on December 31, 2024.
- (f) **Definitions—** In this section:
  - (1) **Climate security—** The term “climate security” means the effects of climate change on the following:
    - (A) The national security of the United States, including national security infrastructure.
    - (B) Subnational, national, and regional political stability.
    - (C) The security of allies and partners of the United States.
    - (D) Ongoing or potential political violence, including unrest, rioting, guerrilla warfare, insurgency, terrorism, rebellion, revolution, civil war, and interstate war.
  - (2) **Climate intelligence indications and warnings—** The term “climate [intelligence](/usc/50/3003.md?p=1) indications and warnings” means developments relating to climate security with the potential to—
    - (A) imminently and substantially alter the political stability or degree of human security in a country or region; or
    - (B) imminently and substantially threaten—
      - (i) the national security of the United States;
      - (ii) the military, political, or economic interests of allies and partners of the United States; or
      - (iii) citizens of the United States abroad.

## Source credit

(July 26, 1947, ch. 343, title I, § 120, as added Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LIII, § 5321(a), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2126; amended Pub. L. 116–260, div. W, title IV, § 405(b), title VI, § 618, Dec. 27, 2020, 134 Stat. 2380, 2400; Pub. L. 117–103, div. X, title IV, § 404, Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 975; Pub. L. 118–31, div. G, title III, § 7319, Dec. 22, 2023, 137 Stat. 1036.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2023—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 118–31 substituted “December 31, 2024” for “December 31, 2025”.

2022—Subsec. (b)(1)(B)(v). Pub. L. 117–103, § 404(b)(1), inserted “and Security” after “for Intelligence”.

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 117–103, § 404(a), designated existing provisions as par. (1), inserted heading, and added par. (2).

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 117–103, § 404(b)(3), substituted “December 31, 2025” for “the date that is 4 years after December 20, 2019”.

Pub. L. 117–103, § 404(b)(2), redesignated subsec. (e) relating to definitions as (f).

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 117–103, § 404(b)(2), redesignated subsec. (e) relating to definitions as (f).

2020—Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 116–260, § 405(b), substituted “intelligence indications” for “security indicators”.

Subsecs. (d), (e). Pub. L. 116–260, § 618, added subsec. (d) and redesignated former subsec. (d) as (e) relating to sunset of Council.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Initial Appointments

Pub. L. 116–92, div. E, title LIII, § 5321(c), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 2129, provided that: “Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 20, 2019], the Director of National Intelligence shall appoint the members of the Council under section 120 of the National Security Act of 1947 [50 U.S.C. 3060], as added by subsection (a).”