National Security and Climate Change – Perspectives from the Military
| Date: Monday, September 22, 2014 |
| Time: 3:30pm – 4:30pm |
| Location: The Morgan Library, 225 Madison Avenue, New York City, NY 10016 |
The American Security Project, the non-partisan national security think tank, will host a panel discussion on the afternoon of Monday, September 22 as a part of the Climate Group’s launch of Climate Week, taking place at The Morgan Library, 225 Madison Avenue.
The event provides views from three retired military leaders about the threats that climate change poses to security around the world, and why action is necessary now. The senior military officers, each with over 30 years of service to their countries, will discuss how militaries around the world are preparing for climate change and how the national security community will be called on to help prevent the worst effects of a changing climate.
Rear Admiral Neil Morissetti (ret.) from the United Kingdom, former Commander of the United Kingdom Maritime Forces, now Director of Strategy at University College London’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy Department; will be joined by, Major General Muniruzzaman (ret.) of Bangladesh, former head of Bangladesh’s artillery forces, now President of the Bangladesh Institute for Peace and Security Studies; and, Brigadier General Stephen Cheney, USMC (ret.), from the Unites States, former Commanding General of Parris Island as well as former Inspector General of US Marine Corp, now CEO of the American Security Project.
This important event will underscore that the military must care about the threats posed by climate change – such as natural disasters, food and water insecurity, migration, state instability, conflict, and their own military bases. All of these will result in missions that the military must conduct. They will make the case that action is important now.
Many citizens and policymakers alike still see climate change as a low-priority, “green” environmental issue. Held the day before the Secretary-General’s Climate Summit, the panel discussion appropriately frames the issue – Climate Change is a National Security issue.
The panel is in conjunction with the ASP-hosted speech from Secretary of State John Kerry about the threats of climate change to security.
www.NationalSecurityandClimateChange.org
Speakers
Rear Admiral Neil Morisetti (Ret.)
Neil Morisetti acted as the UK Foreign Secretary’s Interim Special Representative for Climate Change from January to October 2013. Prior to joining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office he spent 37 years in the Royal Navy, during which time he commanded ships ranging in size from the patrol boat HMS CYGNET, in Northern Ireland, to the aircraft carrier HMS INVINCIBLE, operating globally but principally in the Middle East.
As a Rear Admiral, he was Commander of UK Maritime Forces before commanding the Joint Services Command and Staff College, where he was responsible for the post graduate education of officers from sixty nations. His final appointment in the Royal Navy was as the UK Government’s Climate and Energy Security Envoy, working for the MOD, FCO and DECC to address the security implications of a changing climate and the impact on resource availability.
A graduate of the University of East Anglia, he has a BSc (Hons) in Environmental Sciences
Major General Muniruzzaman (Ret.)
Maj Gen Muniruzzaman (ret.) is President of the Bangladesh Institute of Peace and Security Studies, (BIPSS) and Chairman of the Global Military Advisory Council on Climate Change.
As a senior Officer of the Bangladesh Army, Maj Gen Muniruzzaman served with the United Nations in different conflict zones as an experienced international peacekeeper.
He headed the post-election UN stabilization mission in Cambodia. General Munir was the Military Secretary to the President of Bangladesh and headed the government’s strategic think tank with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The BIPSS is a non-party, non-profit organisation and an independent think tank devoted to studying peace and security issues related to South and Southeast Asia. The Institute seeks to bridge the gap between academic research and policy analysis within the context of Bangladesh and other countries of Asia.
He is the editor of “Peace and Security Review”, an academic journal published by BIPSS.
Brigadier General Stephen Cheney USMC (Ret.)
BGen Stephen Cheney USMC (Ret.) is the Chief Executive Officer of the American Security Project (ASP). He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has over 30 years experience as a Marine. His career included a wide variety of command and staff positions with the operating forces and the supporting establishment. His primary specialty was artillery, but he focused extensively on entry-level training, commanding at every echelon at both Marine Corps Recruit Depots, to include being the Commanding General at Parris Island. He served several years in Japan and has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East and Asia.
Other selected highlights of his military career include tours as Deputy Executive Secretary to Defense Secretaries Cheney and Aspin; ground plans officer for Drug Enforcement Policy in the Pentagon; liaison to the Congressional Commission on Roles and Missions of the Armed Forces; and Inspector General of the Marine Corps.
Following retirement from the Marines, he became the Chief Operating Officer for Business Executives for National Security (BENS), in Washington, D.C., and most recently was President/CEO of the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas.
He is a graduate of the Marine Corps Command and Staff College, the National War College, and the University of Southern California. He was a military fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York City, where he is a member. He was appointed to the Secretary of State’s International Security Advisory Board in December, 2013.
For media inquires contact:
Adin Dobkin
Government & Media Affairs Officer
adobkin@americansecurityproject.org
Resources
Climate Security Report
Water Management in the American Southwest
Ten Key Facts – Climate Change
The Global Security Defense Index on Climate Change: Preliminary Results
America’s Energy Choices – 2014
ABOUT THE AMERICAN SECURITY PROJECT
The American Security Project is a non-profit, non-partisan public policy and research organization dedicated to fostering knowledge and understanding of a range of national security issues, promoting debate about the appropriate use of American power, and cultivating strategic responses to 21st century challenges. For more information, visit www.americansecurityproject.org
