SmartPower

Let's Get Energy Smart

  • Who We Are
    • About Us
    • Funding Support
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Management
    • Testimonials
    • Jobs at SmartPower
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Overview
    • The Rhode Island Energy Challenge
    • The New England Solar Challenge
      • Solarize Rhode Island
    • Solarize South Carolina
    • Solarize at Work
    • Solarize Allegheny
    • Green Is Good
    • Previous Campaigns
      • Energize Norwich
      • Solarize Salisbury – Rowan
      • Arizona SmartPower
      • America’s Greenest Campus
      • America’s Next Eco-Star
      • Connecticut Clean Energy Communities
      • Energize Bedford
      • My Gulf Action
      • Neighbor to Neighbor Energy Challenge
      • Pennsylvania Clean Energy Communities
      • The Renewables
      • SmartPower Government Services
      • Solar Up New Hampshire
      • Portfolio
      • Memo
  • Our Research
    • Reports
    • Conferences
  • News
    • Press Support
    • Press Releases
  • Blog
  • How You Can Help

An Important Conversation on Climate, National Security, and the Independence of the Intelligence Community with Dr. Rod Schoonover

August 7, 2019 By SmartPower

By Ariana Cepulis and Lukas Lehmann

Until three weeks ago, Dr. Rod Schoonover was a Senior Analyst in the Bureau of Intelligence and Research at the US Department of State.

In his position at the State Department, Dr. Schoonover was responsible for analyzing potential national security risks posed by climate change. In early June, Dr. Schoonover prepared written testimony on the security implications of climate change for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, only to have his testimony blocked from reaching Congress by the White House because it did not align with the administration’s views on climate science. At the last minute, Dr. Schoonover was given clearance to give a five minute summary of the testimony, but the testimony was never entered into the official record.

Shortly thereafter, Dr. Schoonover chose to resign.

Which brings us to last Tuesday afternoon when Dr. Schoonover spoke for the first time since his resignation at the World Resources Institute regarding his departure from civil service and the consequences that omission of his testimony will have on the integrity of the intelligence community. 

When asked about the national security implications of the politicization of the basic fact of climate change, Dr. Schoonover responded, “Our national security rests on scientific integrity. When we weaken our scientific base, we weaken our information base.”

As is becoming increasingly clear, climate change has far greater and more alarming political and economic consequences than just the increasing regularity of extreme weather events. Shifts in weather patterns fundamentally alter the ecological systems in the biosphere that have shaped our societies and our world economies. For instance, if temperatures continue to rise, we will not just experience more heat waves and witness sea levels rise as the ice caps melt; the impact will be felt through the depletion of fisheries, the spread of disease carrying organisms, and changes in agriculture. As such, Dr. Schoonover advocates for “broadening out from a weather centric aperture” and instead recognizing the deep socioeconomic consequences of a changing climate. It is as a result of these fundamental political and economic repercussions that climate change is a national security issue. 

Nevertheless, Dr. Schoonover seemed optimistic regarding the recent advancements of climate science and its increasing ability to effectively convey the heightened likelihood of extreme weather events that we are experiencing due to climate change. 

When asked if the US was prepared for the threat of climate change, Dr. Schoonover replied, “Arguably, no country is ready for the full slate of climate-related risks.” 

Well, it’s time to get ready.

Filed Under: SmartPower General

Get the Latest Buzz!

Sign up to receive regular updates and news you can use to increase your Energy IQ. (We hate spam, too, so your email is safe with us.)

Subscribe Now
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
Twitter
SmartPower_org
SmartPower_org
@SmartPower_org

Want to show off your home or business' solar panels to your neighbors and help them see why it’s time to go green? Sign up between now and September 6th to host your home as part of the National Solar Tour! nationalsolartour.org/host @SolarNeighbors @ASES_Solar pic.twitter.com/UzGAEdneUI

reply retweet favorite
12:03 pm · August 14, 2019
Twitter
SmartPower_org
SmartPower_org
@SmartPower_org

@cleantechnica @VaCleanCities @SEIA @AWEA

reply retweet favorite
10:10 am · August 13, 2019
Twitter
SmartPower_org
SmartPower_org
@SmartPower_org

In order to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions, EVs can be part of the solution. However, it is crucial that we also change the makeup of the fuels that we use to produce electricity. Reply with any questions you have!

reply retweet favorite
10:07 am · August 13, 2019
Twitter
SmartPower_org
SmartPower_org
@SmartPower_org

Our most recent post answers the question of whether or not driving an electric vehicle will help reduce US greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. It helps, but by how much differs depending on where you are in the country. Take a look! smartpower.org/does-driving-e…

reply retweet favorite
10:03 am · August 13, 2019
Twitter
SmartPower_org
SmartPower_org
@SmartPower_org

SmartPower’s successful and award-winning Solarize model for residential solar installation is now going global! Check out this article to learn more about the Solarize campaign coming to India: smartpower.org/lets-solarize-…

reply retweet favorite
11:11 am · August 12, 2019
Follow @smartpower_org

Support Our Work

We need your financial support to help more people get Energy Smart. Please make your tax deductible contribution by clicking the "donate" button below.
Click here to learn how you can join the effort.

Read Brian F. Keane’s Column

BrianKeane

Recent News

Does Driving Electric Mean Going Green?

Let’s Solarize New Delhi!

The Advantages of Portable Solar Power

An Important Conversation on Climate, National Security, and the Independence of the Intelligence Community with Dr. Rod Schoonover

Where Business Meets Climate: Congress and Business Leaders Meet to Discuss Climate Crisis

Testimonials

Copyright © 2019 SmartPower ®
Let's Get Energy Smart is a registered trademark of SmartPower, Inc.