U.S. military veterans travel to Copenhagen to discuss security threats of climate change

Today (15 December 2009), a veterans group—Operation Free—held a panel in Copenhagen about the security threat posed by climate change. Operation Free is a coalition of veterans and national security groups. In October, the group sent a pair of buses across the country to raise awareness on climate change and the security implications for America and the military.

At the group’s press conference in Copenhagen, the group discussed the two major security threats from a changing climate and continued oil use.

1. Drought, floods, famine and mass migration can contribute to political and economic instability--making regions more dangerous.
2. Dependency on a signal source of energy constrains the U.S. and other countries, generating dependency on hostile states and regions

 Alex Cornell du Houx, a sergeant in the Marine Corp Reserves stated that, “Climate change is a threat multiplier, meaning it makes the world a more dangerous place.” Climate change has the ability to destabilize already weak regions—meaning politically or economically fragile areas—through droughts, floods, famine and mass migration. Stressed populations with political and economic instability create breeding grounds for terrorism. Recruiting a farmer who has lost his crop and has few prospects for alternative work is much easier than enlisting a thriving farmer with multiple agricultural opportunities. The group also stressed oil dependency as a problem in terms of U.S. security, but also emphasized instability in other regions generated from oil access or limited supplies.

In addition to discussing the threats, veterans addressed the deniers of climate change who claim no problem or threat exists. Michael Green, a former Army Captain, stated, “As a former combat commander, if 95% of my intelligence told me I had an imminent threat and 5% of my intelligence told me there was nothing to worry about, I’d be criminally negligent if I did not act to address the threat...This is not about narrow interests and it’s not about partisanship. This is about long-term security.”   

For further information on climate change and security discussions among the U.S. military, see Climate Change Climbs the Ranks in the Pentagon and CIA.