Worldwide Emerging Environmental Issues Affecting the U.S. Military. August 2005 Report

• Other Authors: FEDERATION OF UN ASSOCIATIONS WASHINGTON DC MILLENNIUM PROJECT
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 2005
• Subjects: Military Forces and Organizations; Environmental Health and Safety; *ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT; *MILITARY FORCES(UNITED STATES); IRAQ; DETECTORS; CORPORATIONS; CHEMICALS; WATER; SECURITY; MINE DETECTION; JAPAN; MELTING; CLIMATE; TREATIES; UNITED NATIONS; WASTE RECYCLING; SURVEILLANCE; RECONNAISSANCE; LAND MINES; ATMOSPHERE MODELS; CHINA; TAIWAN; URINE; SWAMPS; INDIAN OCEAN; GREENHOUSE EFFECT; GLACIERS; WARNING SYSTEMS; SIBERIA; GREENLAND; PERMAFROST; OIL PRODUCTS; PLAGUES; LASER TRACKING; DEMAND(ECONOMICS); HYMENOPTERA; TSUNAMIS; KAZAKHSTAN; UNITED KINGDOM; ENVIRONMENTAL LAW; USSR; EUROPEAN UNION; INDIA; SOVIET ANTIPLAGUE INSTITUTES; LOW DOSE CHEMICALS; MULTINATIONAL CORPORATIONS; REACH(REGISTRATION EVALUATION AND AUTHORIZATION OF CHEMICALS); URINE POWERED BATTERIES; CLIMATE CHANGE; PACIFIC ISLANDS; SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT; WARMING TROPICAL ATMOSPHERE; GLOBAL WARMING; CNOOC(CHINA NATIONAL OFFSHORE OIL CORPORATION); Greenland; Indian; Pacific; permafrost; Siberia
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA528693; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA528693

The hunger for energy might become a driving force for some countries to disregard international security issues and accords to the point of jeopardizing international security. For example, there were international concerns expressed about the alleged Chinese offers of arms and other sensitive defense technology in return for oil and gas rights in certain countries. "Unprecedented political opposition" probably triggered by strategic concerns in the US Congress forced the withdrawal of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC)'s bid for California's Unocal. Similar concerns may affect the rival bids of China and India to buy a Canadian firm with oil fields in Kazakhstan. Beneficial environmental restraints and agreements in many regions of the world are likely to be victims of desperation for energy at this time in history when many forces are converging to harm human society. Nations near the edge of environmental and food sufficiency collapse could become additional failed states and competitors. The world's current and rising dependence on oil and gas may possibly trigger new regulations at national, regional, and international levels to protect national energy sources and avoid eventual unethical deals that might jeopardize international security. In addition to possible security aspects that would have direct implications for it, the military should enhance its efforts on energy conservation and development of alternative energy sources--both for its own interest and as a contribution to national security. Security is just one more reason (in addition to climate change and others) why reducing reliance on oil has become vital. Prepared in cooperation with Battelle Columbus Operations, OH.