Energy is a security issue. Oil has passed $100 a barrel, gas is approaching $4 a gallon, and American jobs and well-being are threatened. We need a comprehensive energy strategy to make our country, our livelihoods, and our environment more secure. We have lost time over the last eight years – and we are more dependent on fossil fuels than ever – but we have the technology to start making changes, we have public calls for action, and we have ready partners in other nations. The time for dramatic action is now.*
Report
9 March 2010
Today President Obama is meeting with a bipartisan group of Senators to discuss the issue of climate change and energy legislation. Not only is comprehensive legislation essential to creating millions of American jobs and transitioning us towards a new clean energy economy, but bipartisan national security experts also agree that it is a critical national security priority. Such a move by the United States Congress is important for there to be sustainable progress - both domestically and internationally - on carbon reduction. While such legislation would address many of the security concerns expressed by our nation's military and national security experts, extreme conservatives continue to ignore the warnings about this threat and instead insist on "doing nothing." This is not how America will address the twin challenge of climate change and energy security.
Report
17 December 2009
Tomorrow, President Obama arrives in Copenhagen for the final day of the U.N. conference on climate change. This is the decisive moment of the conference, one which will determine whether a global agreement to address this issue will or will not be achieved. The President’s arrival has been highly anticipated throughout the conference, and he is arriving after two weeks of intense negotiations over some of the most complex issues facing the world. Prominent American governmental leaders, such as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator John Kerry (D-MA), and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), have been working hard both in Copenhagen and the halls of Congress to find a political agreement that will address the threat from climate change.
Report
7 December 2009
Today is the start of the two week United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. From now until December 18, negotiators from 190 countries will be working out some of the most complicated and vexing issues surrounding a climate change deal, including cutting greenhouse gas emissions and financial commitments to help developing countries who are ill equipped to deal with the problem. Expectations now center on Copenhagen producing a framework political agreement, with binding targets to come next year.
Report
3 November 2009
Despite conservative efforts to kill the debate, crucial climate legislation is moving forward today in the Senate Energy and Public Works Committee. The Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act will not only strengthen America’s economy by adding jobs and modernizing our industrial base, it will also go far in mitigating the perilous effects that climate change poses to our country’s national security. National security experts, retired military officials, our intelligence community, and many prominent conservatives are in agreement that a rapidly changing climate has a direct impact on our way of life, global stability, and our security as a nation. To prevent these detrimental and preventable impacts to our national security, we need immediate action in the Senate to mitigate the causes and effects of climate change.
Report
23 October 2009
National security experts, retired military officials, and many prominent conservatives are in agreement that the challenge of climate change poses a threat to our way of life, global order, and our security. After eight years of denial and dithering by President Bush, the Obama administration has broad public support for its efforts to revive international climate negotiations. The Obama administration is seeking to make progress on climate change at the Copenhagen talks in December and is also working to increase coordination and collaboration with China on a range of strategic and practical environmental issues. However, for Copenhagen to serve as the launching point for developing a comprehensive and implementable climate change treaty, the United States must lead by example.
Report
30 September 2009
Climate change legislation is moving forward in the Senate. Today, Senators John Kerry (D, MA) and Barbara Boxer (D, CA) are introducing legislation that will serve as the Senate companion bill to the Waxman-Markey climate change bill that passed the House of Representatives this past summer. National security experts, retired military officials, and many prominent conservatives are in agreement that the twin challenges of climate change and energy security pose a threat to our economic well being, environmental health, and national security. This bill will address these diverse challenges in an integrated manner.
Report
22 September 2009
President Obama spoke to a special working group on climate change at the United Nations today, where he urged action. National security experts, retired military officials, and many prominent conservatives are in agreement that the challenge of climate change poses a threat to our way of life, global order, and our security. But tackling these issues will require action from all areas of government. After eight years of denial and dithering by President Bush, the Obama administration has broad public support for its efforts to revive international climate negotiations. But given America’s inability to pass effective legislation on climate change, the world remains skeptical.If the impact on our way of life and the generations that follow us isn’t enough, Senators should recognize that their inaction has dangerous consequences for our national security.
Report
10 September 2009
Today veterans from around the country join former Republican Senator John Warner at the White House to make the case for action on climate change and energy security. National security experts, retired military officials, and many prominent conservatives are in agreement that the twin challenges of climate change and energy security pose a threat to our way of life, global order, and our security. Tackling these issues will require action from all areas of government. The House of Representatives recently took a hugely important step in passing energy and climate change legislation, but the legislation now looks to be bogged down in the Senate. Warner's leadership and the military's concern highlight that energy security and climate change are not partisan issues - they are long-term challenges to our security, our economy and our way of life that we need to start meeting as a nation now. Pretending we can just go on as we are isn't just ignorant, it's dangerous.
News
Orlando Sentinel 5 August 2009
Report
31 July 2009
Denying the existence of climate change isn’t just ignorant, it’s dangerous. Climate change is happening with profound implications for the national security of the United States. National security experts, retired military officials, and many prominent conservatives are in agreement that climate change poses a threat to our way of life, to the global order, and even to how we keep ourselves secure.
Energy