In response to a recent commentary by Patricia Suzanne (Oct. 5), I want to draw attention to a remarkable document on climate change and national security.
On Sept. 24, sixty-four former military and security leaders endorsed “A Climate and Security Plan for America.” It’s signed by former chiefs of staff of the U.S. Army and Navy, along with many others.
Here’s an excerpt: “By the end of the century, Americans and others around the globe face the possibility of many feet of sea-level rise and coastal cities that may need to be abandoned; hundreds of millions of displaced persons around the world…”
The report is a clarion call for climate action in order to preserve a functioning global community.
It’s important to look to independent organizations like the military when evaluating the threat posed by climate change.
Because our armed services depend on scientific evidence to assess risk, they are less amenable to politicized science.
The U.S. military has expressed concern about climate change since the George W. Bush administration, and dozens of Defense Department documents on this issue can be accessed at climateandsecurity.org.
Urgently reducing greenhouse gas emissions and funding adaptation should be top priorities for every politician who is concerned about national security and global stability.
Terry Hansen
Hales Corners, Wisconsin
