As the Paris Conference of Parties drew near, climate change was on the mind in November. Five of the six most-read stories touched on climate change in some way.

Two retired generals – one from the Marines, one from the Air Force – spoke strongly about the need to de-politicize climate change at the Wilson Center. “Lest I sound like a greenie and a zealot, I’m not,” said Lt. Gen. Richard Zilmer. “This is about being faster, lighter on the battlefields of tomorrow, and being more lethal. That’s what this is about and that’s why it’s a national security issue.”

Robert Engelman pointed out signs that demography and population-related issues, like reproductive health and gender equity, may see more prominence now that climate change is forcing governments to do long-term planning.

And a day-long conference at the Wilson Center tackled one of the most difficult climate-related challenges: How do you provide electricity to 1.3 billion more people without increasing emissions?

1. Military Leaders: Climate Change, Energy, National Security Are Inextricably Linked, Schuyler Null

2. Long in the Background, Population Becoming a Bigger Issue at Climate Change Discussions, Robert Engelman

3. What Can Governments Do About Falling Birth Rates?, Paris Achenbach and Moses Jackson

4. Zero-Emission Energy for 1.3 Billion People? Scaling Up Renewable Energy in the Developing World [Part One], Graham Norwood

5. Kerry Announces New Task Force to Integrate Climate Change and Security Issues Into U.S. Foreign Policy, Lauren Herzer

6. The Renewable Energy Era Has Already Started, Mohamed T. El-Ashry

7. What’s Behind West and Central Africa’s Youthful Demographics? High Desired Family Size, Elizabeth Leahy Madsen

8. Water Wars? Think Again: Conflict Over Freshwater Structural Rather Than Strategic, Cameron Harrington

9. Falling Costs, Rising Opportunities: Scaling Up Renewable Energy in the Developing World [Part Two], Graham Norwood

10. How Successful Were the Millennium Development Goals? A Final Report, Josh Feng