Q and A
Chairman Kerry asked if climate change will take lives.
Senator Warner, Admiral Gunn and Admiral McGinn all answered in the affirmative that climate change will take human lives.
Senator Lugar raised the spectre of trade penalties being used to enforce climate change objectives and how that will affect the politics of climate change.
Sharon Burke responded that the United States has negotiated over much more difficult issues than climate. Yes, she maintained, China will be a hard negotiating partner, but this is in America’s long-term interest, and that’s how we must respond.
Senator Casey described climate change as a threat to human life. He asked witnesses to describe the threat in South Asia and how we can better describe the issue to the American public.
Senator Warner urged the public to think about what happens if we don’t act, but then he implored the Senate to lead, not follow the public, because of the complexity of the issues involved.
Admiral Gunn noted that the public needs to be educated about the specific ways in which climate change will affect our national security.
Senator Corker asked if the United States would be better off with more nuclear power plants.
Senator Warner urged the expansion of nuclear energy plants. Admiral McGinn supported that view and argued that nuclear energy is part of a solution, but so are conservation, clean techbologies, and cellulosic ethanol.
