Forget the bipartisan grandstanding and that it’s been an environmental cause. What two retired military experts wanted people to know about climate change is that it’s a legitimate threat to national security.

Retired Marine Brig. Gen. Stephen Cheney, chief executive officer of American Security Project, and retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Arlen “Dirk” Jameson made LSU the latest stop Wednesday on their two-year tour of the country. At each stop, their goal is to raise awareness of how climate change will impact the military, whether it’s responding to natural disasters or responding to conflicts caused by scarce resources.

“The majority (of people) feel there’s not a connection or don’t perceive there’s one,” Cheney said.

As populations are displaced by drought, excessive rain or coastal flooding, conflicts can arise as they move into new areas that are already occupied.

Also, as stronger storms or more severe weather affect areas around the world and in the U.S., oftentimes it’s the military that responds. Then there’s the issue of the melting Arctic, which remains ice-free long enough now that it’s becoming a new shipping lane.

“Climate change is causing all that to melt, and we have a pretty vested interest in that,” Cheney said.

For the complete article, please see The Advocate.