Is Climate Change a National Security Issue?

Forget terrorists, cyber-attacks, illegal immigration and global economic strains. The Obama administration has its eye on a new form of national security risk and it’s got the country in uproar. In a recent Q&A session hosted via Twitter, President Obama stated that there is a very real risk that climate change could increase the “likelihood of global conflict.” As far as we’re concerned, this definitely lumps global warming, and other climate change effects into the national security risk category.

Swedish tweeter asks the big question

Scandinavians are renowned for their forward thinking attitudes so it came as no surprise that the most controversial question was raised by a Swede.

@ZCarlander, a Swedish based Tweeter wrote, “Mr ?@POTUS, in the state of the union speech you said that climate change is a national security issue. Can you explain why it is? #AskPOTUS”

Obama responds in real time

Just minutes later Obama posted a response that came in just three characters under his 140 character limit. The president wrote, “More severe weather events lead to displacement, scarcity, stressed populations; all increase likelihood of global conflict.” As well as forging a direct link between climate change and national security risks Obama also highlighted the ethical issues of the matter, adding “We have a moral obligation to the most vulnerable and the next generation.”

Shell – Global oil giant or environmental terrorist?

One of the hottest topics in the Twitter Q&A session was Shell’s plans to go ahead with drilling in Arctic waters. It was raised in the wake of the Obama administration’s recent decision to allow Shell to proceed with exploratory drilling in the USA’s Arctic waters. Environmentalists have warned that as well as disrupting the lives of local wildlife the project will also fast-track the melting of ice shelves. In turn this will contribute to rising sea levels, as well as global air and ocean temperatures. Not to mention the very real risk of a catastrophic oil spill. Yet Obama stands behind Shell’s Arctic drilling project and insists that “the highest possible standards” have been set for the company’s Arctic oil drilling project.

Climate change on the Obama agenda

As well as taking to Twitter to answer questions about climate change, Obama also spent the day touring the National Hurricane Center. Here, he took the opportunity to highlight the fact that climate change amplifies the risk and intensity of extreme weather conditions that put homes, lives and economies at risk.

While the Shell incident has generated serious criticism it seems that Obama is still serious about combating climate change. The world is also taking a stance, with almost 50% of @POTUS tweets oriented around climate change, or issues related to climate change.

If climate change is a national security issue, it needs to be quashed. Could shale be the key to powering the planet, without risking the health of the natural environment? Options are discussed in this article titled, Shale Plays Offer Unprecedented Opportunities.