This omerta on use of the “c” word in domestic U.S. political debate also reared its head as a panel wrestled with the little-known fact that more people become refugees because of devastating weather events than because of war.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said even senators with little concern for humanitarian crises acknowledge “this is creating instability in places where American security interests are implicated.”
“I can get bipartisan support for security partnerships that also have beneficial humanitarian impacts. I can also get them to talk about extreme weather resilience, disaster preparation, and recovery — as long as I don’t use the word climate.”
After a collective wince went around the audience for the debate entitled “Navigating Climate-Induced Migration,” Schatz added sheepishly: “I know it’s goofy, I apologize for that, but whatever gets people to the place where they can deal with the reality on the ground, I’m willing to do it.”
Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration, agreed there is widespread ignorance of how the climate crisis is weakening everyone’s security — and that this, if overcome, offered a potential way forward: “When people recognize that there are serious security implications from failing to act, then maybe we see some action.”