SPYING ON CLIMATE CHANGE

At last, reliable intelligence on climate change: They will use the UN IPCC data.

Spy agencies to assess global warming’s ripple effects; The review will study how already volatile areas might fare as the climate changes
Greg Miller, May 4, 2007 (LA Times)
With thanks to Mad Magazine (click to enlarge)
WHO
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Director of National Intelligence (DNI) J. Michael McConnell;

WHAT
The CIA has launched a study of how climate change’s impact on volatile world regions will affect US national security. Republicrat and Demmican representatives on congressional intelligence committees immediately began debating the merits of a legislatively-requested National Intelligence Estimate (NIE)-like assessment (representing the consensus of all 16 US spy agencies) on the security aspects of global warming.

WHEN
Announced May 3, the study will be ready in 2008 and will assess security matters through 2025.

WHERE
The announcement of the report comes from the office of CIA’s DNI. The debate comes from House Intelligence Committee leaders. The report will assess this world, as well as the coming one.

WHY
Rising global temperatures could cause flooding, food shortages, migration shifts and other disruptions. Already volatile regions could erupt, creating security problems the US have to confront. Some leaders resent tasking intelligence agency energies away from terrorist activities. Other leaders think in-depth analysis is necessary.
- The CIA report will use the projections of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
click to enlarge
QUOTES
- Rep. Peter Hoekstra of Michigan, ranking Republican, House Intelligence Committee: "It's going to take resources from other places…What do you think will happen in Nigeria or in Kenya if temperatures rise and the agricultural land decreases by 20%?…Guess what? Radical Islam is active in both those countries."
- Rep. Silvestre Reyes (D-Texas), chairman of the intelligence committee: "Climate change can have a serious impact on military operations and exacerbate global tensions…For that reason, intelligence analysts are already reviewing the impact of climate change to our nation's security. Our bill requires that the review be a formal National Intelligence Estimate and that the estimate be provided to Congress."
- Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista), a member of the House intelligence panel: "Our government should not commit expensive spy satellites and human intelligence sources to target something as undefined as the environment…"
- CIA spokesman Paul Gimigliano: "The intelligence community has for a long time studied the impact that environmental factors — things like scarce resource and natural disasters — can have on global security…Those are real issues."