Hagel: ‘Climate Change Presents Security Issues for Us’

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel expressed hope Wednesday that next week’s midterm election would deliver an outcome that enables Congress to “work together,” in order to deal with critical security issues, including “global warming.”

Hagel, speaking at the the Washington Ideas Forum, argued that climate change presents significant security challenges.

“From my perspective, within the portfolio that I have responsibility for – security of this country – climate change presents security issues for us.”

He cited as an example melting glaciers in the Arctic, saying that was having an effect on exploration for oil, natural gas and minerals.

“As the oceans increase it’ll affect our [military] bases, it’ll affect islands, it’ll affect security across the world,” he said. “So, just from my narrow perspective, what I have responsibility for, that’s happening now, and we have to be prepared for that.”

Hagel said it was critically important to deal with such issues.

“Bottom line is, with all the crises of the moment – and that’s part of my job, to manage the immediate crises – we also cannot lose sight of the strategic, longer-term challenges that face our country either, and this [climate change] is one that we’ve got to be smart in how we handle it.”

Responding to a question, Hagel agreed that if the military speaks out about climate change, Americans may take the issue more seriously – “because the military, the Pentagon, has maybe – at least perceived by many people – a more serious look at the world. Doesn’t mean the State Department’s not serious, or anybody else …”

Asked later Wednesday about Hagel’s remarks on the importance of tackling issues like climate change, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said she “would absolutely agree.”

“If you spend any time with Secretary [of State John] Kerry – and anyone who has, they would know that he brings up climate change in almost every opportunity, every meeting, every dinner, every discussion,” she said. “And he’s certainly been leading the charge on this front within the administration.”

Hagel also expressed the hope that the midterm election next Tuesday will produce a Congress that can “work together.”

“[W]e need all of our institutions functioning, including the Congress, to deal with these great issues because they have long-term consequences.”

Aside from “global warming,” Hagel cited as “great issues” the ISIS/ISIL threat, the rise of China, “what Russia has been doing the last six months,” and pandemic disease.

“Every facet that we see out there today is rolling back on us in some way. If we’re not paying the price today, we will pay a big price tomorrow.”

Hagel, a former two-term Republican senator from Nebraska, said he wasn’t suggesting that “we all have to agree. That’s not the issue; we need different opinions.”

But, he added, “we’ve got to have a partnership strong enough so that both sides can get to some conclusion, and make a decision on how we go forward.”  CNSNews