As President Obama prepares to deliver a major speech on
climate change, a report by two military agencies has quietly chastised U.S.
political leaders for failing to realize that global warming is the enemy, not
a lack of energy independence.
climate change, a report by two military agencies has quietly chastised U.S.
political leaders for failing to realize that global warming is the enemy, not
a lack of energy independence.
According to Inside Climate News, a Pulitzer
Prize-winning website, the new report
from the U.S. Center
for Naval Analyses and the London-based Royal United Services Institute, two of the NATO alliance’s
front-line strategy centers, recommends putting more effort into fighting
global warming than securing reliable supplies of fossil fuels.
Prize-winning website, the new report
from the U.S. Center
for Naval Analyses and the London-based Royal United Services Institute, two of the NATO alliance’s
front-line strategy centers, recommends putting more effort into fighting
global warming than securing reliable supplies of fossil fuels.
Here’s a taste of the website’s coverage of this largely
overlooked report:
overlooked report:
“The authors call the habitual American fixation on
winning energy independence through expanded North American production of oil
and natural gas ‘misguided.’ They say the ‘only sustainable solution’ to the
problem of energy insecurity is not through more drilling, but through energy
efficiency and renewable fuels, like biofuels, to replace oil.
winning energy independence through expanded North American production of oil
and natural gas ‘misguided.’ They say the ‘only sustainable solution’ to the
problem of energy insecurity is not through more drilling, but through energy
efficiency and renewable fuels, like biofuels, to replace oil.
“… And in blunt language, they criticize American
policymakers and legislators for refusing to accept the ‘robust’ scientific
evidence that emissions of carbon dioxide are already causing harmful global
warming, and for refusing to take actions that, if taken swiftly, could ward
off its worst effects.
policymakers and legislators for refusing to accept the ‘robust’ scientific
evidence that emissions of carbon dioxide are already causing harmful global
warming, and for refusing to take actions that, if taken swiftly, could ward
off its worst effects.
“’Political leaders, including many in the United
States, refuse to accept short-term costs to address long-term dangers even
though the future costs of responding to disasters after they occur will be far
greater,’ said their report, published
this month.”
States, refuse to accept short-term costs to address long-term dangers even
though the future costs of responding to disasters after they occur will be far
greater,’ said their report, published
this month.”
Inside Climate News notes that for several years, climate changes caused by burning fossil fuels
have been viewed as an overwhelming national security threat by some within the
Pentagon and by growing number in all national security circles. In 2007, a report from CNA’s
military advisory board called climate change a “threat
multiplier.”
have been viewed as an overwhelming national security threat by some within the
Pentagon and by growing number in all national security circles. In 2007, a report from CNA’s
military advisory board called climate change a “threat
multiplier.”
In 2008, a formal National Intelligence Assessment found that
climate change poses a serious threat to national security and long-term global
stability.
climate change poses a serious threat to national security and long-term global
stability.
The Department of Defense’s 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review,
a major planning document, warned that climate change may fuel conflict, put
new strains on military forces operating in the field, and cause damage to
military bases, especially ports exposed to rising seas and intense storms.
a major planning document, warned that climate change may fuel conflict, put
new strains on military forces operating in the field, and cause damage to
military bases, especially ports exposed to rising seas and intense storms.
In a broader sense, experts believe the floods, droughts,
famine and natural disasters associated with climate change will lead to new
military conflicts, military incursions across sovereign borders, and overall global instability.
famine and natural disasters associated with climate change will lead to new
military conflicts, military incursions across sovereign borders, and overall global instability.
