From Flint, to Denver, to Pittsburgh, many communities have experienced lead-contaminated drinking water in recent years. The latest water quality challenge is happening on St. Croix, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands, where a monthslong water advisory was recently lifted. The immediate response to this crisis may be over, but more work is needed to ensure safe drinking water in the long term, says RAND's Sara Hughes. Removing and replacing all lead service lines is key, as are upgrades that account for the effects of climate change. However, just as important as rebuilding the infrastructure of the water system itself is rebuilding residents' trust, Hughes says. Read more »

There is still an enormous amount to be learned about how climate change may affect U.S. national security. A new RAND paper takes a key first step toward filling this gap by identifying areas for future research. The authors focus on the social and political implications of climate change, which are understudied compared with the physical effects of the crisis. Examining these areas is essential to better understanding the full scope of effects that climate change may have on national security. After all, the authors write, “climate change is not reshaping just a handful of discrete events, or the next few years; it is reshaping the map of the world.” Read more »