The National Homeland Security Consortium (NHSC) has issued its 2012 white paper entitled Protecting Americans in the 21^st Century: Priorities for 2012 and Beyond. The paper, which “builds upon the findings and recommendations of the Consortium’s 2008 and 2010 white papers,” identifies eight sectors of concern. The white paper also notes that the eight sectors “are not only of concern individually, but that the interaction and intersection of these threats and vulnerabilities present the most complex issues for our nation and the national homeland security community.”

The eight sectors (not listed in order of priority) are:

1. Cyber Hazards
2. Climate Change
3. Demands on Global Resources
4. Changing Demographics
5. Emerging Technologies
6. Violent Extremist Ideologies
7. Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation
8. Mega-Hazards and Catastrophic Cascading Consequences

The NHSC consists of 22 national organizations that represent local, state, and private professionals.