Memo to the Military: Give a Damn About the Warming Planet

Posted on Nov 10, 2012

roberthuffstutter (CC BY 2.0)

Global warming could be American imperialism’s undoing if Pentagon officials don’t prepare accordingly, a group of experts effectively reported in a study warning against such “climate surprises” as natural disasters, sea-level rise, drought and epidemics.

Contrary to many right-wing American politicians, the Pentagon already ranks global warming as a national security threat that could fuel certain conflicts and endanger troops worldwide. More than 30 bases could be underwater if and when the ice caps melt.

—Posted by Alexander Reed Kelly.

The Guardian:

Current scenarios could be thrown completely askew by “climate surprises”, the report said. These could be a single catastrophic event – such as a food price shock – or a cascade of reactions that could ultimately put America at risk. “It makes sense for the intelligence community to apply a scenario approach in thinking about potentially disruptive events,” the report said. “It may make sense to consider the security implications of two or three more plausible trends as a way to anticipate risks.”

The study also recommends a crash course for intelligence analysts on the potential threat posed by sea-level rise, drought, food shortages and other consequences of climate change. “It is essential for the intelligence community to understand adaptation and changes in vulnerability to climate events,” it said.

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