national security

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Admiral Locklear as a strong voice on climate change issues might surprise some. That a four-star flag officer is publicly stating that climate change dominates the long-term strategic discussions in his command matters.[read more]

On December 21, 2010, China’s State Grid announced a $1 billion investment in Brazil, buying 7 Brazilian power transmission companies. What is State Grid, why is State Grid investing in Brazil, and why does the investment matter? What is State Grid? State Grid is China’s largest transmission and distribution company; according to State...[read more]

In light of the recent attacks by militants on tankers carrying oil for NATO and U.S. troops, the series that I am posting this week is especially timely. When we consider the dependence of the U.S. and the western world on the Middle East, the potential for terrorism on oil infrastructure looms as a large risk hanging over our economies...[read more]

Fighting a war on the ground in Afghanistan has to be one of the hardest things a young person can do. Fortunately, the U.S. Department of Defense, or DOD, is on the ground with our troops offering help and support – albeit in some very unexpected ways.   According to Tony Bui, an engineer with the U.S. Army Communications-...[read more]

Keith Kloor has an interesting thread of debate going on his 'Collide-a-Scape' blog about climate security, which he started with interviews with Cleo Paskal and Geoff Dabelko.  Before these interviews, Keith says: In reality, the linkages between climate change, energy and national security are complex. Remember that...[read more]

The Pentagon affirmed earlier this year that “Climate change, energy security, and economic stability are inextricably linked.” Today an unprecedented 33 retired US military generals and admirals announced that they support comprehensive climate and energy legislation in a letter to Senators Reid and McConnell as well as a full page...[read more]

Last week, on Wednesday 21 April, 2010 Jeffrey Mazo, the IISS' Research Fellow for Environmental Security and Science Policy, launched his new Adelphi Book, Climate Conflict: How Global Warming Threatens Security and What to Do about it. I wrote a brief review of the book a few weeks ago, and it should be required reading for...[read more]

If this headline from Reuters is true "Rivers a source of rising tension between Pakistan and India" then we may be in trouble.  When you read the article, however, you see that it is mainly speculation about the future of the Indus, if climate changes change the river's flow.  This is an issue that the IISS has...[read more]

A few weeks ago, the IISS held a workshop on climate change and energy security.  During this workshop, there was a strong debate about whether climate change should be linked to energy security.  Below is a summary of the debate, and some proposed solutions that arose out of it. Energy Security and climate change are often...[read more]

The following is a press release by VoteVets, who continues to make a strong case for comprehensive clean energy and climate legislation to protect our national security. Vets launch compelling national and state television and online ad campaign in support of issue WASHINGTON, DC – A compelling new poll of Iraq and Afghanistan...[read more]

One of the most frequent criticisms made against nuclear energy by its critics is its cost. Opponents of nuclear energy – many of them on the progressive side of the spectrum – have pointed to the tremendous expense of building reactors as a reason not to pursue nuclear energy at all.  Sure enough, it takes years and billions of...[read more]

It hasn't been easy keeping up with all the recent developments related to Iran's nuclear program, which still looms as a large, unresolved risk embedded in the global price of oil--though you would never know it from the behavior of oil markets in the week since Iran's hidden nuclear enrichment site was revealed. It's not clear...[read more]

Climate change is a major threat to U.S. Security.  The clean air, clean water, clean energy jobs bill would enhance our security by reducing oil dependence and environmental harm.  That’s why the conservative Virgina Republican, John Warner, is pushing hard to pass the bill — because he is a former Navy secretary and former...[read more]

See the full post at SolveClimateA spate of Pentagon reports and intelligence studies made headlines this summer for their common conclusion: Climate change is a real threat to national security. Sounds like reason to get serious about reducing carbon emissions. But are America’s armed forces heeding their own word on the perils of...[read more]

The United States has an historic opportunity to enhance its national security by reducing its dependence on oil. Policies to accomplish this goal, including more efficient fuel economy standards, investments in hybrid and electric vehicles, development of natural gas-fueled heavy duty vehicles, and production of advanced biofuels...[read more]