Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change to Host Forum on National Security Impacts of Climate Change

Climate change creates “conditions that can enable terrorist activity and other forms of violence,” according to the 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review.  Mass migrations, flooding, drought, sea level rise, and food supply instability are all causes for increased conflict around the world.  Climate change will act as a “threat multiplier” in the most volatile regions and will stress supplies and access to military installations around the world.  Today’s military leaders are already taking steps to prepare for the enhanced security threat posed by climate change.

The Bicameral Task Force on Climate Change, founded in January 2013, focuses on drawing congressional and public attention to climate change and developing effective policy responses to this urgent challenge.  The current co-chairs are Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Rep. Bobby L. Rush, Sen. Ben Cardin, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and Sen. Ed Markey.

EXPERT PARTICIPANTS: 

                 • Brigadier General Gerald Galloway, United States Army (Retired), Glenn L. Martin Institute Professor of Engineering,                              Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and an Affiliate Professor, School of Public Policy, University of                                Maryland

                 • Brigadier General Stephen Cheney, USMC (Retired), Chief Executive Officer of the American Security Project (ASP)

                 • Fmr. Captain Jon Gensler, U.S. Army, Truman National Security Project Fellow

EVENT:   Forum on Climate Change and National Security

WHEN:    Tomorrow, Thursday, March 13, 2014
                  11:00 a.m.

WHERE:  Room SC-4, U.S. Capitol