Senator John Warner and the Pew Project visit Hampton Roads, VA
Senator John Warner, Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate and the Hampton Roads Partnership Discuss Climate and Security in Norfolk, Virginia
Darrel Martin, 540-599-7132
Brandon MacGillis, 202-887-8830 or bmacgillis@pewtrusts.org
Norfolk, VA (Tuesday, October 6, 2009) - Today, the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate and the Hampton Roads Partnership hosted the "Seasons of Change: National Security, Energy and the Future of Virginia's Hampton Roads," a leadership forum on national security and climate. Joined by Virginia's recently retired Senator John Warner, panelists discussed the critical links between climate change, protecting our national security, increasing our energy independence and preserving our region's economic vitality.
"I spent thirty 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 (R-VA). "Leading military and security experts agree that if left unchecked, 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."
Senator Warner served in the U.S. Navy during the final years of World War II, in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean War and was the Secretary of the Navy from 1972 to 1974. During his five terms in the U.S. Senate he was a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and was the longest serving Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee. In 2006, he joined with Senator Joseph Lieberman (I-CT) to co-sponsor the Climate Security Act, the only climate change bill passed by a Senate committee.
"Few individuals have the depth of knowledge and experience on the energy, national security and environmental challenges facing our country and the world as Senator Warner," said Phyllis Cuttino, director, U.S. Global Warming Campaign for the Pew Environment Group. "Forums like this will help engage our nation in an informed conversation on a clean energy future that makes America more secure."
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 U.S. by threatening energy supplies, damaging military bases, increasing food and water shortages and stressing the economy.
“There are serious risks to doing nothing about climate change,” said Admiral John B. Nathman, USN (Ret.), CNA Military Advisory Board Member. “We can pay now or we're going to pay a whole lot later. The U.S. has a unique opportunity to become energy independent, protect our national security and boost our economy while reducing our carbon footprint. We've been a model of success for the rest of the world in the past and now we must lead the way on climate change.”
“This is an issue that will only grow in importance in Hampton Roads,” said Virginia State Delegate Joe Bouchard (D-Virginia Beach), a former commanding officer of Naval Station Norfolk. “Regional military installations like the Norfolk Naval Station, Naval Air Station Oceana and Langley Air Force Base all face many of the critical issues also faced by our cities and counties, including storm surge, flooded evacuation routes and mitigation challenges from sea-level rise associated with global warming. The only difference is that when a base gets flooded, it has serious negative impact on our national security.”