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Global Warming As A Security Issue

Based on U.S. intelligence agencies reports, the cost of doing nothing about global warming may be to incubate terrorism and civil conflict. The convergence of the increasing cost of fuel, global food shortages, global warming and national security threats show the interconnectedness of these transnational issues. Environmental degradation is likely to intensify problems in developing countries, such as poverty, social tensions and weak governments, states Thomas Fingar, chief of intelligence analysis for the U.S. director of national intelligence.

Furthermore, extreme weather, drought, flooding and disease could lead to major migrations, which could give rise to tensions within and between countries.

Even though intelligence agencies don’t normally tackle environmental issues, Mr. Fingar and other intelligence officials defended their involvement in the report due to the fact that their analytic experience and regional expertise are useful.

Source: Global Warming As Security Issue: Intelligence Report Sees Threat, by Siobhan Gorman, Wall Street Journal, 26 June 2008.

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