"Climate change and oil dependence are issues of national security, and the Pentagon will take a lead role in shifting the way the country uses energy, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said [Wednesday] night."
"In remarks made at a Washington, D.C., reception held by the Environmental Defense Fund, Panetta became the highest-level official to draw a clear line between environmental, energy and security issues since their relationship was formally established in Pentagon strategy two years ago.
'In the 21st century, reality is that there are environmental threats that constitute threats to our national security,' he said last night. With carefully chosen words, the Defense secretary stopped short of naming individual threats, such as the standoff with Iran that has raised global oil prices, instead laying out a strategic framework for how the military thinks about and is acting on long-term environmental and energy issues."
Annie Snider reports for Greenwire May 3, 2012.
SEE ALSO:
"Secretary of Defense on Climate, Foresight and the National Interest" (Dot Earth/NYT)
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