Videos: Climate Change and National Security

In two recent videos from Peter Sinclair, intelligence and military experts discuss the security threat of a changing climate. The recent floods in Pakistan reinforce the concerns voiced in the videos.

The videos are from Sinclair's “Climate Denial: Crock of the Week” series produced last month (July 2010) by his Greenman Studio LLC, a graphic design and animation studio in Midland, Michigan. 

In the second of this two-part series on National Security, Sinclair presents a series of clips with national security experts discussing the climate change issue.

Retired Vice Adm. Dennis McGinn, who helps lead the CNA Military Advisory Board which produced a report (PDF) 3 years ago on the links between climate change and national security, was recently quoted in an E&E article about the Pakistan floods.

"This is a weather, climate-related disaster that is affecting over 20 million people in a country that has nuclear arms, an ongoing extremist insurrection and is a key ally in our efforts in that part of the world, especially in defeating the Taliban.  This is a major, major issue from a national security standpoint ... and this is a window into the future if we don't do something about climate change and energy policies,” stated McGinn.

Society can enhance national security and slow climate change by reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, including imported oil. Since global temperatures have already risen 1.1 to 1.6°F since the early 1900s and will continue to rise another 1°F (0.6°C) even if greenhouse gas emission levels were  stabilized today, the earth is locked into a certain pace of climate change. Society needs to prepare domestically and internationally for the related impacts. 

Online Resources:

Friedman, Lisa. “Experts say Pakistan shows heightened security risks posed by climate change.” E&E ClimateWire. 23 Aug. 2010

The CNA Corporation. “National Security and the Threat of Climate Change.” 2007 (PDF).

Riebeek, Holli. “Earth Observatory: Global Warming.” NASA. 3 June 2010.

WWF Climate Blog:

• Pakistan Floods "a Case Study of a Climate Disaster" Showing Need to Slow Climate Change, Prepare for Impacts. 19 Aug. 2010. 
• Climate Change a Recruiting Tool for Terrorists? 10 Aug. 2010
• New Pentagon report declares climate change and energy as key issues “shaping the future security environment,” 1 Feb. 2010
• Climate Patriots (Video), 24 Feb. 2010
• 33 Retired General & Admirals Tell Congress: “Climate Change is making the World More Dangerous.” 5 may 2010
• U.S. Navy Climate Change Roadmap, 2 June 2010

• National Security section.