National Security Implications of Climate Change

Jun 5, 2019 | US House of Representatives
Washington, DC
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The US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence will convene an open hearing about the national security implications of climate change. During this hearing, the Committee will examine the impacts of a changing climate and associated extreme weather events on U.S. security interests and on economic, political, social, and humanitarian conditions globally.

Our national security depends on American leadership – both at home and abroad – in combating and leading the charge on climate change. The Intelligence Community (IC) plays a critical role in that mission by providing rigorous analysis about the intersection of climatological trends and U.S. national security interests.

The IC has previously issued public assessments and findings addressing the security challenges posed by the effects of climate change, including previous Worldwide Threat Assessments prepared by the Director of National Intelligence, previous editions of the National Intelligence Council’s (NIC) strategic analytic report, “Global Trends,” and the NIC’s “Implications for US National Security of Anticipated Climate Change” memorandum, issued in September 2016.

Among other topics, the Committee will seek testimony about climate change’s impacts and:

• Risks of decreased state stability;
• New patterns of migration;
• Other negative humanitarian impacts;
• Potential competition over scarce resources;
• Possible radicalization amid governance failures;
• Threats to U.S. basing and force posture;
• The evolving Arctic environment;
• China’s potential to influence and become a leader in new norms on climate policy;
• The role of unregulated emerging technologies, such as “geoengineering”; and
• Implications for global governance and multilateral responses.

The Committee has invited the following witnesses to attend:

• Peter Kiemel, Counselor, National Intelligence Council (NIC), Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
• Jeffrey Ringhausen, Senior Naval Intelligence Manager for Russia and Eurasia, Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI)
• Rod Schoonover, Senior Analyst, Office of the Geographer and Global Issues, State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research (State INR)

Details:

All media wishing to attend this hearing must be credentialed through the House Radio & TV Gallery at (202) 225-5214. All TV camera crews should RSVP to the House Radio & TV Gallery. Media seating will be first come, first serve. Livestream available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCheD2L-zDY