Monday, March 07, 2011

"Climate Change and National Security" - presentation by US Navy Admiral David Titley (video)

Oceanographer for the U.S. Navy, RADM David Titley discusses the hot topic of climate change, and its impending ramifications on national security. Listen as he details some of the top facts and figures you should know about climate change and your future, explained in terms that even the most unfamiliar with science would be able to understand.


Disposition / key points of his speech:
  1. How he changed from skeptic to concerned.
    • "We are operating in nature's casino. I intend to count the cards."
    • A number of the most obvious explanations: not the sun, better models etc.
    • Funny comparison between carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to alcohol in the blood.
  2. [From 15:47] Why the army cares about climate change.
    • "Changes in the opening of the Arctic. [...The Bering Strait could get] the importance of the Strait of Malacca and the Strait of Hormuz [combined] because we have fossil fuels coming out and we [USA] and Russia together control that strait - that's a big change."
    • "What's gonna happen to the sea level rise?" The IPCC under-estimates sea level rise. "We're the navy. We tend to build our bases at sea level. [...] But it's more than that; it's the US infrastructure. Look at where our oil refineries are. [They are in Houston, New Orleans, Oakland] it's all at sea level."
    • Ocean acidification could become a food security issue for one billion people.
Found via Peter Sinclair (thanks). (He also cut up the video in the two parts so go there if you prefer that.)

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