“The Democrats’ Global War on Weather” and “Jack Bauer, Climatologist???” are the headlines conservatives are using to mock efforts by progressives to finance a National Intelligence Estimate to study global warming. But climate is clearly a national security threat, as made clear in a recent CNA report from a distinguished group of former military leaders (PDF).
As but one example, a “ferocious drought and famine” were the driving forces behind the crisis in Darfur, which is “likely to be seen as the first climate change war,” as the Guardian put it.
Contrary to the mocking press release, the “war on weather” is being waged by conservatives who block action on mandatory greenhouse gas controls, thereby ensuring more and more extreme weather events for many decades to come.
It is precisely because conservatives have blocked action on climate change that progressives are driven to fund a serious effort by our intelligence agencies to understand the dangerous implications of our do-nothing climate policy.
If only Jack Bauer were a climatologist — then conservatives might listen to the overwhelming scientific evidence about the climate crisis. Better yet, put Jack in charge of U.S. climate policy — then we would finally have a leader who believes in taking action.
This post was created for ClimateProgress.org, a project of the Center for American Progress Action Fund.
