The Military-Climate Change System: A Case Study Using the Agent Based Approach (ABA)

The relationship between the United States militaryand climate change is a complex adaptive system that is, at first,difficult to understand. By utilizing systems thinking and Plecticasoftware to visualize the salient distinctions, systems, relationships,and perspectives (DSRP), one can achieve a deeper and broaderunderstanding of the agents and simple rules that result in the emergingcomplex system. Implementing the Agent Based Approach (ABA),this paper will present a mental model map of the military/climatechange system that has been analyzed using DSRP/ST-Loop Analysisto reflect reality. Understanding this visual map will allow for greateranalysis of the system in order to accomplish three goals - understandthe system, identify the prioritization within the system, and providepolicy recommendations to military decision-makers.