Gen. Gordon Sullivan (Ret.) Briefs Lawmakers On National Security Risks Posed By Global Climate Change

Washington, DC — General Gordon R. Sullivan, USA (Ret.), Chairman of the Military Advisory Board to The CNA Corporation report National Security and the Threat of Climate Change, today warned legislators that climate change is a "significant threat to our national security."

In remarks before the House Committee on Science and Technology's Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight, Sullivan told Representatives, "I came to the Advisory Board as a skeptic [but] after listening to leaders of the scientific, business, and governmental communities both I and my colleagues came to agree that global climate change is and will be a significant threat to our national security and, in a larger sense, to life on earth as we know it to be."

Sullivan, a career soldier and the 32nd Army Chief of Staff, serving from 1991-1995, testified in his capacity as Chairman of the Military Advisory Board to CNA report National Security and the Threat of Climate Change, which found that global climate change poses serious challenges to U.S. military planning and preparedness.

The Military Advisory Board consists of 3- and 4-star Flag Officers from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps. Its charge was to assess the emerging phenomenon of global climate change through a National Security lens based on the members' experiences as military leaders.

Sullivan explained that the advisory board found, that, "As a world community the potential destabilizing impacts of climate change include: reduced access to fresh water; impaired food production, health catastrophes — especially from vector- and food-borne diseases; and land loss, flooding and the displacement of major populations.

"What are the potential security consequences of these destabilizing effects?" Sullivan continued. "Overall, they increase the potential for failed states and the growth of terrorism; mass migrations will lead to greater regional and global tensions; and conflicts over resources are almost certain to escalate.

"The path to mitigating the worst security consequences of climate change involves reducing global greenhouse gas emissions," Sullivan said. "There is a relationship between carbon emissions and our national security. I think that the evidence is there that would suggest that we have to start paying attention."

Sullivan also emphasized his concern about the relationship between the military's current energy use patterns and protecting our troops, saying, "One of our key vulnerabilities on the battlefield today is transportation of fuel for combat use.

"We are using a lot of fuel in Iraq, and the Army in particular is experiencing battlefield casualties on their fuel convoys — they are difficult to protect — so to the extent that DoD can develop new technologies to protect the troops by improving energy efficiency so, too, can those technologies be beneficial to our country. We cannot afford to have 70% of what the Army carries to the battlefield be liquid — gas and water — because our job is to win for the American people," Sullivan said.

At the conclusion of the hearing Rep. Brian Baird (D-WA) said, "This is one hearing that all Americans should have a chance to see."

To view a full transcript of Gen. Sullivan's remarks, and download a PDF copy of National Security and the Threat of Climate Change log on to http://securityandclimate.cna.org