National Security Leaders Comment on Gibson Resolution Put Forth by GOP Leaders Calling for Action on Climate Change

For Immediate Release: Contact - Paige Knappenberger, pknappenberger@climatenexus.org, 646.559.8353

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National Security Leaders Comment on Gibson Resolution Put Forth by GOP Leaders Calling for Action on Climate Change 

As you may have heard, Rep. Chris Gibson (R-NY) and 10 additional House Republican co-sponsors are expected to release a resolution tomorrow emphasizing the immediate threat posed by human-influenced climate change, its national security impact, and the need for lawmakers to address this issue.

Please feel free to use any of the following quotes from experts and security leaders, commenting on the Resolution: 

Sherri Goodman, President and CEO, Consortium for Ocean Leadership: “I commend Representative Gibson and his colleagues for recognizing the national security risks of climate change and the opportunities to build a better America by responsibly addressing these risks through sound investments in scientific research, observations, monitoring, and improved prediction capability to create a more resilient and sustainable nation.” 

Christine Parthemore, Senior Research and Policy Fellow, Center for Climate and Security: “This is a welcome step toward a more meaningful, bipartisan dialogue on climate change. There are a number of security risks influenced by climate change for which the signatories can help develop strong policies and programs. Ripe areas for bipartisan Congressional leadership include more resilient military infrastructure, disaster relief capacity building at home and with international partners, ensuring the Pentagon plans for climate change influencing the health of defense personnel around the world, and investing in defense energy programs that can mitigate both operational risks and harmful emissions.”

Rear Admiral David W. Titley, USN (Ret.), Professor of Practice in Meteorology & Director, Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Center for New American Security: "I'm very excited to see the Gibson resolution introduced to the Congress.  Our nation's long-term security is critically dependent on moving away from fossil-based fuels to lessen the worst risks of climate change.  It's vital that the Congress be an active partner in leading and managing this transition. The Gibson resolution is a very good first step in that direction."

Francesco Femia, Founding Director, The Center for Climate and Security: "The military has been sounding the alarm on the climate change threat to national security since 2003. It is good to see policymakers in Congress recognizing this reality, and calling for a robust response."

Marc Levy, Deputy Director, Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN): “In the 1990s Republicans said that the Democratic approach to climate policy was elitist, irresponsible, and out of touch with the concerns of average Americans. Their opposition helped shape Obama's reinvention of climate policy, which today focuses on climate's threats to Americans' core concerns with health, jobs and security.  So it should not surprise anyone that Republicans are now beginning to endorse the policies that reflect their handiwork. A bipartisan foundation for action on climate is a gift for which we can thank those early opponents.”

And - “If a terrorist group threatened to do to Americans what climate change is already doing, it would instantly jump to the list of our most serious enemies. The Gibson Resolution means that we now have a fighting chance to tackle this threat with a vigor that only comes with bipartisan support.”

Roger-Mark De Souza, Director of Population, Environmental Security and Resilience, Wilson Center: “Recognizing that climate change will impact our security is the first step in preparing for future conflicts. Climate change poses complex risks that will challenge efforts to maintain stability in fragile regions.”

• Note: “A New Climate for Peace,” commissioned by the G7 Foreign Ministers, describes these compound climate-fragility risks in detail:www.newclimateforpeace.org

To comment and answer questions on why and how climate change is a national security issue, feel free to reach out to the national security leaders and experts below. 

Richard G. Kidd IV, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Energy and Sustainability
Contact: Dave Foster paul.d.foster3.civ@mail.mil and Dennis Bohannon, dennis.k.bohannon.civ@mail.mil 

Sherri Goodman, President and CEO, Consortium for Ocean Leadership, sgoodman@oceanleadership.org, (202) 448-1250

Christine Parthemore, Senior Research and Policy Fellow, Center for Climate and Security, cparthemore@gmail.com,(202) 631-8505

Rear Admiral David W. Titley, USN (Ret.), Professor of Practice in Meteorology & Director, Center for Solutions to Weather and Climate Risk, Adjunct Senior Fellow, Center for New American Security, dwt12@psu.edu, (831) 233-4265

Francesco Femia, Founding Director, The Center for Climate and Security, ffemia@climateandsecurity.org, (571) 263-5691

Neil Bhatiya, Policy Associate, The Century Foundation, bhatiya@tcf.org, (732) 995-2883

Marc Levy, Deputy Director, Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), Earth Institute, Columbia University, mlevy@columbia.edu; Office (845) 365-8964 ; Cell (845) 270-5762

Roger-Mark De Souza, Director of Population, Environmental Security and Resilience, Wilson Center, Roger-Mark.DeSouza@wilsoncenter.org, (202) 468-9863

Geoff Dabelko, Professor and Director of Environmental Studies at the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Affairs, Ohio University

Contact: Meaghan Parker, Senior Writer/Editor, Woodrow Wilson Center, Meaghan.parker@wilsoncenter.org, 202-691-4182

David Michel, Director, Environmental Security Program, Stimson Center, dmichel@stimson.org, (301) 326-5056