Kerry raises hopes for focus on climate security at NSC

[babylonsister]

Kerry raises hopes for focus on climate security at NSC
By Rebecca Beitsch - 01/05/21 06:01 AM EST


Security experts are hopeful that former Secretary of State John Kerry will use his special envoy role on the National Security Council (NSC) to focus not just on emissions reductions but the broader risks posed by climate change.

The first-of-its-kind position at the NSC has been branded as a sort of international climate czar who will be responsible for shepherding the U.S. through negotiations after President-elect Joe Biden rejoins the Paris climate agreement on Jan. 20.

But beyond the diplomatic realm, Kerry’s seat at the NSC table presents an opportunity to push for more robust planning around the national security impact of climate change.

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At the tail end of the Obama administration, the Pentagon and other agencies were asked to assess how climate change would impact national security. Since then, Democratic lawmakers have fumed that the Defense Department has done only a cursory review of climate risk during the Trump administration, failing to even mention the base damage from the 2018 storm season.

“Until President Trump put his heavy hand on the scales, there was quite a bit of work being done by various security apparatuses,” said former Rep. Denny Heck (D-Wash.), who, before retiring this year, sponsored a bill calling for a Climate Security Intelligence Center within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

The Biden administration could get the ball rolling again, and there’s hope Kerry could help integrate climate change into existing analyses, evaluating how it intersects and exacerbates other security risks.


more...

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/532628-kerry-raises-hopes-for-focus-on-climate-security-at-nsc

[MyOwnPeace]

1. Still seems like a dream.......

Imagine - an administration that cares about citizens and can "look ahead" and actually make a plan.

Go, Joe!!!!!!