Tomorrow May Be Too Late: Military Leaders Testify on National Security Challenges of Climate Change

Sep 13, 2017 | Amanda King
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As the Senate returns from recess, passing the annual National Defense Authorization Act will be one of its top priorities—and this year it could include a potentially controversial amendment directing the Pentagon to assess the impact of climate change on national security. In the House, the Langevin amendment surprisingly garnered enough Republican support to withstand a challenge in July. Since then, two more senior military appointees have testified to the importance of understanding the challenges climate change poses to national security.  “The dynamics that are happening in our climate will drive uncertainty and will drive conflict,” said General Paul J. Selva, the vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, during a July 18^th Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing to consider his reappointment.  General Selva, who was confirmed on August 2^nd, will serve for the next two years as the second highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, tasked with developing and directing the military’s response to imminent threats. His remarks highlighted the various global threats currently facing the United States – including Russia, North Korea, and Iran.