In a critical editorial on Tuesday, the Times chastised Congress for failing to adequately address the oncoming impacts of climate change even as the opportunity to act becomes increasingly narrow.
The best hope for pushing through meaningful legislation to stem global warming? Broadening the climate change discussion among policy makers from purely an environmental issue to one of national security concerns as well, thus broadening the base of support for climate change policy.
The argument that climate change will have impacts on our military readiness is already gaining traction in the military community. In 2007, the Pentagon-funded CNA Corporation released a report detailing the serious military ramifications of climate change, and, as the Times reported two weeks ago, the military has already started conducting exercises focused on the wide-ranging geopolitical impacts of global warming, including religious conflict, the spread of contagious diseases and vast damage to infrastructure.
What is next, argues the Times, is for this way of thinking to start gaining supporters in Congress, especially among Republicans who have so far resisted climate change legislation on the grounds that it will hurt domestic economic interests:
This line of argument could also be pretty good politics — especially on Capitol Hill, where many politicians will do anything for the Pentagon. Both Senator John Kerry, an advocate of strong climate change legislation, and former Senator John Warner, a former chairman of the Armed Services Committee, say they have begun to stress the national security argument to senators who are still undecided about how they will vote on climate change legislation.
Proponents of climate change legislation have already begun to argue that “drought, starvation, disease and mass migration… could unleash regional conflicts and draw in America’s armed forces.” Hopefully those in Congress who have rightfully declared our national security a priority, but have yet to do so with our climate security, will soon realize they are increasingly one and the same.
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