Military

State Senate Hearing In San Diego On Climate Change And National Security

By Ed Joyce / Reporter

Published March 19, 2010 at 3:20 AM PDT

This story was published more than 14 years ago.

California state lawmakers will hold a hearing in La Jolla on Friday to talk about the connection between climate change and national security.

The state Senate Select Committee on Climate Change and AB 32 Implementation will hear testimony on the strategic challenges of U.S. dependence on fossil fuels and security issues that may arise due to climate change.

One scenario indicates climate change could create extreme weather events causing severe damage to critical military bases and undermining national security.

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State Senator Christine Kehoe said much of the U.S. oil supply comes from politically volatile countries.

"So we're asking military, the United States Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, industry and others to come and address the committee on what can be done to move toward more energy independence," said Kehoe.

Retired Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn is one of several retired or active members of the military planning to testify.

Also planning to testify are the Commanding General Marine Corps Installations West,the Co Major General Anthony L. Jackson, and the Commander Navy Region Southwest, Rear Admiral William D. French.

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Ed Joyce was the environment reporter and afternoon news anchor for KPBS-FM. Before joining KPBS, he worked as an editor/columnist with Copley News Service in San Diego. Ed has an extensive background in newspaper, radio, web and TV journalism. After graduating with a B.A. in Communications from the University of Washington in Seattle, Ed began a career in broadcast journalism. His work has included stints in public broadcasting, commercial broadcasting and education -- working as an affiliate professor of communication and reporter at the University of Idaho and Washington State University in Pullman, Wash. During the past 20 years he has worked in radio, TV and print as a news reporter, anchor, writer, editor and producer. Along the way he has won numerous awards for general news reporting, newswriting, feature and issue reporting and breaking news reporting from The Associated Press, The Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego Press Club and other organizations. During the mid-1990s, while working for Oregon Public Broadcasting, he was a frequent contributor to National Public Radio, including a feature report on the memorial service for 14 U.S. Forest Service "hotshots" who died fighting a wildfire in Colorado (the crew was based in a central Oregon town). He’s also filed reports with Marketplace, KQED’s California Report and Climate Watch and with national and regional networks throughout the United States. At KPBS, Ed continues his contributions to National Public Radio and other national and regional news organizations. He has won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and San Diego Press Club for his environmental reporting at KPBS-FM-TV and for producing and anchoring radio newscasts. In 2007 he was selected a National Press Foundation fellow for Understanding Violent Weather II program. The seminars were held at the National Weather Center in Norman, Okla. In 2008 he spoke at a UC San Diego conference on U.S. National Security as part of the school’s Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation. Ed led a discussion with the 18 foreign government officials and academics about the political debate over climate change. In 2010, Ed was elected to a three-year term on the board of the San Diego Press Club.

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