Sen. Warner and the Pew Project, Joined by Sen. Glenn, visit Columbus, OH

America's Security
The Pew Charitable Trusts and John Glenn School of Public Affairs Host National Security, Energy and Climate Forum
 
For Immediate Release
March 2, 2010
 
CONTACT:
Brandon MacGillis, 202-887-8830
Tom Bullock, 440-554-7203
 
COLUMBUS – Today at The Ohio State University, former Senators John Glenn (D-OH) and John Warner (R-VA) along with leading military and climate experts discussed how climate change and our energy use threaten the country's national security and ways the U.S. military is preparing to meet these challenges.
 
“I spent 30 years in the U.S. Senate working on behalf of our men and women in uniform serving our country and on the issues related to the impact of climate changes on their future military roles and missions," said Senator John Warner.  “Leading military and security experts agree that global warming could increase instability and lead to conflict in already fragile regions of the world.  We ignore these facts at the peril of our national security and at great risk to those in uniform who serve this nation.”

Representatives from the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate and The Ohio State University's John Glenn School of Public Affairs participated in the discussion about  the critical links between climate change, energy and national security.
 
Numerous expert reports have documented the security challenges that unchecked global climate change could cause.   The Central Intelligence Agency's long-term forecasting arm, the National Intelligence Council, recently reported that global warming could directly impact the United States by threatening energy supplies, damaging military bases, increasing food and water shortages and stressing the economy.
 
“We at the John Glenn School of Public Affairs recognize the importance of global climate change and the policy issues that will keep rising from it,” said Dr. Charles Wise, founding director of The John Glenn School of Public Affairs at The Ohio State University. “This forum provides the opportunity for the public to hear experts and to start the discussions that will lead to a solution to this problem.”
 
The Ohio State University is home to some of Ohio's leading clean energy policy experts and to several of the nation's premier climate researchers.
 
“The Armed Services realize that America's growing dependence on oil isn't just expensive, it can be dangerous,” said Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn USN (Ret.), CNA Military Advisory Board Member.  “That is why the Department of Defense has taken on the leadership challenge to reduce energy use across the board in order to increase mission effectiveness and save millions of dollars.”
 
The Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate brings together science and military policy experts to examine new strategies for combating climate change, protecting our national security, increasing our energy independence and preserving our nation's natural resources.
 
“The Department of Defense is the largest user of energy in this country and is aggressively working to reduce their carbon bootprint because they know our national security is directly linked to our climate security,” said Phyllis Cuttino, who directs the Pew Environment Group's Global Warming Campaign. "Forums like this will help engage our nation in an informed conversation on a clean energy future that makes America more secure."
 
Press coverage.