What's All This Talk About Copenhagen?
If you're following along with the climate legislation debate, you may be hearing people talk about wanting the U.S. to have something done on global warming by the December 2009 Copenhagen climate talks.
Just what are these Copenhagen talks? Glad you asked! Our own Energy and Global Warming Team Apprentice Justin Guay has done all the hard work for you, researching and writing up an excellent primer on the international climate work done and to be done in Copenhagen and the meetings leading up to it. Here's an excerpt:
"The most sincere hope of the international community and environmental advocates everywhere, is that this road will end in agreement in December of this year (2009) in Copenhagen, Denmark. These hopes however, hinge on the United States seizing global leadership by acting domestically to ensure the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security (ACES) act. If Copenhagen were a game of Texas Hold 'Em Poker, the United States can now go 'all-in.'"
Read the rest on our Climate Crossroads Blog.
Global Warming Threatens Our National Security
Perhaps one of the lesser-thought-about risks of increasing global warming is what it will do to the security of nations around the globe.
As water supplies dwindle, oceans rise, and more - people will be moving and border clashes could increase. Last week the Pew Environmental Group unveiled the Pew Project on National Security, Energy and Climate.
This project will bring 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."
Said project aide and former Virginia Senator John Warner: "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."