Interrelations Between the Environment and National Security
Ambassador (Ret.) Center for Environment and National Security Director Reno Harnish held a lecture on November 15, 2010 for the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. In my opinion the discussion after the lecture, “Climate Impacts on National Security,” demonstrated that the relationship between climate change and national security is not widely understood by the public.
Climate change should be seen as an accelerant of instability or conflict. A traditional definition of national security typically includes protection from national threats by maintaining armed forces, guarding state secrets and focusing on the well-being and security of individuals. Climate change on the other hand is the change of weather patterns caused by human activity over a long period of time. The relationship of environment and national security therefore, examines the impact of the environment across borders, political stability of fragile states, and positive military impacts.
Another issue raised by members of the audience was the lack of hard data for climate impacts on national security. I think the primary issue is the lack of publicized attention about the topic. Research data exists.
Ambassador Harnish covered several climate security case studies. One case study is how climate change has impacted civil conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa (Hendrix and Glaser 2005). Another example is China’s climate and security challenges as a result of warming due to climate change (Lewis 2009). It is predicted that China will lose about 150 km2 due to climate change. He further cited a case study about the linkage of climate change, crop yields and the Mexico-US cross-border migration. The Mexico-US border emigration increases to about 2% when there is a 10% reduction in crop yields (Feng, Krueger, and Oppenheimer 2010).
Evidence of support for combating climate change is shown in current California policy in the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and the recent defeat of Proposition 23. It is a response to the threat of increased greenhouse gas emissions as a result of climate change. Additionally, the Low Carbon Emission Fuel Standard, Executive Order S-1-07, aims to mix fuel sold in the California market to meet targets for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
All these examples provide evidence of the interrelation between the environment and national security, making it an important factor to consider in environmental policy formulation.
The views expressed in this article are purely personal and do not represent the Scripps Institution of Oceanography or the University of California San Diego.
Sincerely,
Erika Marie C. Go
Scientists and engineers alike, have not come forward with tangible scientific proof that the activities of mankind, greenhouse gases, and climate change are inter-related to cause global warming. Global warming is a natural cycle of our planet over the many eons of its 4.4-billion years of its lifetime.
It is sad however, that politicians use Global warming as an excuse for political affairs, just like the unfounded Weapons of Mass Destruction. All of these things in my opinion, speaking freely as CEO of an energy company, believe otherwise. It is the same view as may others in the Energy and Environmental Forefront believe as well. I am not talking about students, academes and theoretical people, but people who are in the hands-on “development for profitability” arena of these “sectors.”
Let me explain. Global Warming is basically a TOOL and EXCUSE for us, entrepreneurs to maximize our profitability by selling our Climate change-compliant products and services, to make mankind believe that they are doing something good and better for our planet Earth. We capitalize on this false pretense of the need to contribute something back to the environment. In the end, it is really for the benefit of basic corporate economics and our corporate bank accounts.
The Governments of the world on the other hand, use it in part for “Control” – meaning if they are able to divert and mandate or require what we do as humans in our everyday life (what we eat, what we buy, what we do, etc), then that becomes a building block for the sinister plans that they have. It is a way for them to justify their jobs, to create political affairs, and to justify their activities and spending.
These thoughts may be far fetched to many, but if you try to keep an open mind, it may just allow things to just sink in right. Think about it. There is no harm to react and go against the flow of thoughts.
Besides, WHY ARE WE CONCERNED ABOUT SAVING PLANET EARTH… our Mother Earth is notorious for creating and destroying life to cleanse itself of it parasites. On second thought, IT IS US HUMANS WHO SHOULD BE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR EXISTENCE ON THIS PLANET!
The DIRECT relationship between CLIMATE CHANGE and NATIONAL SECURITY is the FEAR that is instilled by the US Government in the minds of the many.
The Cllimate IMPACT on National Security on the other hand, is the fact that PEOPLE ARE NOW BEGINNING TO REALIZE that IT IS NOT REAL.
FEAR is the CATALYST for both instances.