Earth Equity News

Tying Climate Change to National Security. By Lisa Lerer, Politico, October 14, 2009. "Climate-legislation supporters are increasingly turning to national security to bolster their pitch for a bill this year. So far, the climate debate has largely focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming, drafting an international climate change treaty and fostering new, cleaner sources of energy and so-called green jobs. But for nearly two years, military and intelligence experts have been issuing studies warning that climate change could put American military personnel and national security at risk. Increasingly violent storms, pandemics, drought and large-scale refugee problems, they say, will destabilize regions and encourage terrorism. And American dependence on foreign energy sources will only exacerbate the threats and increase the likelihood of military action. Now, with Massachusetts Democrat John Kerry emerging as a key player in the Senate climate debate, Democrats believe national security could emerge as a persuasive argument. Kerry, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been reaching out to Republican Sens. Dick Lugar of Indiana and John McCain of Arizona, who have long focused on U.S. security issues.

"This week, Operation Free, a coalition of national security and veterans organizations, is sending a group of Afghanistan and Iraq war veterans on a 21-state, biodiesel-fueled bus tour to promote the message that climate change could hurt American security. The group was launched in August, a month after the House passed the climate and energy bill. And Votevets, a left-leaning veterans group, bought $500,000 worth of radio ads featuring Iraq war veterans making the case that the climate bill would help the country become more energy independent and less reliant on oil from the Middle East... In September, Operation Free organized a group of more than 150 veterans from across the country to visit Senate offices and the White House to raise awareness of the national security threats of climate change. They were joined by former Sen. John Warner (R-Va.), who had also served as Navy secretary and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Warner, along with Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), sponsored a climate bill last year... The intelligence community is also taking action on climate change. In September, the CIA announced it was opening a Center on Climate Change and Security to examine how global warming could affect the country's military strategies."