President Obama Highlights National Security Threats Posed by Climate Change

WASHINGTON (May 20, 2015) -- In a commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, President Obama today reminded us that the threat of climate change does not stop at our borders and renewed his call to take strong and urgent actions to curb dangerous carbon pollution.

The following is a statement by Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council:

"The president is right. Climate change is a clear and present threat to our national security – and to the ability of our men and women in uniform to carry out their mission, starting with defending our country.

"The military has been a leader in reducing its reliance on fossil fuels by embracing clean and renewable forms of energy. It's time for the rest of America to also step up to this critical challenge.''