Senator Warner and the Pew Project Visit Cleveland, OH

“I spent 30 years in the U.S. Senate working on behalf of our men and women in uniform serving our country and on the issues related to the impact of climate changes on their future military roles and missions," said Senator John Warner.  “Leading military and security experts agree that global warming could increase instability and lead to conflict in already fragile regions of the world.  We ignore these facts at the peril of our national security and at great risk to those in uniform who serve this nation.”
 
Numerous expert reports have documented the security challenges that unchecked global climate change could cause.   The Central Intelligence Agency's long-term forecasting arm, the National Intelligence Council, recently reported that global warming could directly impact the United States by threatening energy supplies, damaging military bases, increasing food and water shortages and stressing the economy.
 
"Energy purchases consume a large part of our nation's defense budget, diverting resources from important defense priorities. Energy security and efficiency are very important to our nation's security,” said Dr. Michael Heil president of the Ohio Aerospace Institute.  “We are fortunate in Ohio to have two large federal laboratories performing cutting edge research in advanced energy to address these issues, NASA Glenn Research Center and Air Force Research Laboratory. The Ohio Aerospace Institute is pleased to host Senator Warner and The Pew Charitable Trusts for this important forum."

Clean energy research conducted by Ohio Aerospace Institute and nearby NASA Glenn Research Center is simultaneously critical to energy independence, reducing carbon emissions, and stimulating technology-driven industries in Ohio.

“The Armed Services realize that America's growing dependence on oil isn't just expensive, it can be dangerous,” said Vice Admiral Dennis V. McGinn USN (Ret.), CNA Military Advisory Board Member.  “That is why the Department of Defense has taken on the leadership challenge to reduce energy use across the board in order to increase mission effectiveness and save millions of dollars.”

“The Department of Defense is the largest user of energy in this country and is aggressively working to reduce their carbon bootprint because they know our national security is directly linked to our climate security,” said Phyllis Cuttino, who directs the Pew Environment Group's Global Warming Campaign. "Forums like this will help engage our nation in an informed conversation on a clean energy future that makes America more secure."