June 25, 2008

Whitehouse Statement on Intelligence Assessment on Security Risks of Global Warming

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence, issued a statement today about a National Intelligence Assessment on the security implications of global climate change:

“The intelligence community has found that global warming threatens the security of nations and peoples around the world. Changing weather patterns, rising seas, and warming temperatures are projected to, among other consequences, damage military installations and other critical infrastructure along our coastlines, and contribute to intra-state conflict over access to water, increased migration, and humanitarian crises.

“As Deputy Director Fingar testified this morning, climate change has the potential to affect lives, property, and other security interests; those effects will in most cases be negative. It is important that the intelligence community recognizes facts that the Bush Administration fails to acknowledge, and gives those of us concerned about this looming danger reassurance that even in this administration, the truth of this threat is acknowledged by responsible officials.”

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