The Partnership for a Secure America released an impressive statement yesterday, signed by 38 of the nation’s national security leaders, calling on the United States to recognize the security risks of climate change and invest in solutions to mitigating those risks. From the statement:

We, the undersigned Republicans, Democrats and Independents, implore U.S. policymakers to support American security and global stability by addressing the risks of climate change in vulnerable nations.

The statement was officially launched at an event on Capitol Hill yesterday, where R. James Woolsey, CIA Director from 1993 – 1995, and former Senator Wayne Gilchrist (R – MD), discussed the issues addressed in the statement.  The signatories represent an impressive range of experience, expertise and political affiliation. From PSA’s description:

Signatories include seventeen former Senators and Congress members, nine retired generals and admirals, both the Chair and Vice Chair of the 9/11 Commission, and Cabinet and Cabinet-level officials from the Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush (41), Clinton, and Bush (43) administrations.

Another of the statement’s signatories, Tom Ridge (R-PA), Assistant to the President for Homeland Security from 2001-2003, Secretary of Homeland Security from 2003-2005, and former governor of Pennsylvania, told Pennsylvania’s Patriot News:

The U.S. national security community, including leaders from the military, homeland security, and intelligence, understand that climate change is a national security threat… They’re not talking about whether or not it is occurring – it is… They’re talking about addressing the problem and protecting the American people. It’s time Washington does the same.

In short, this is neither a special interest nor a partisan issue – it’s a matter of national security. Doing something about it should be a given.