The two-day conference, focused specifically on military security equities in the Arctic, was sponsored by the International Law Department of the Naval War College and the Marine Policy Center at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. Participants included military, government and academic experts from nearly a dozen interested nations.
Holding a doctorate in meteorology and oceanography and serving as the senior oceanographer in the Navy, Titley was a logical choice to head Task Force Climate Change, established by the chief of naval operations in May of 2009. Since the Arctic climate is changing faster than other region of the globe, the task force is initially charged with developing a roadmap to guide Navy policy, strategy and investments related to the Arctic.
Titley pointed out that the tenants of the Cooperative Strategy for 21st Century Seapower, what he referred to as "the U.S. Navy's foundation strategy document," apply equally in the Arctic as in other regions of the globe. He specifically mentioned the requirements for naval presence in the Arctic, maritime security in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and deterrence.
"Deterrence is letting other nations know that we are up there, that we are an Arctic nation, and that we have equities," he explained.
Titley mentioned that human access to the Arctic is increasing due to the reduction of the sea ice, and that access will likely increase in the future driven by the possibility of natural resource extraction, including oil, natural gas, and minerals; significant time and fuel savings from transoceanic shipping opportunities; and increased commercial fishing potential due to the northward migration of some ecosystems.
Conference Addresses Navy's Role in a Changing Arctic
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2009 – Rapidly diminishing sea ice, melting glaciers, rising sea levels, increased storm severity -- all are possible consequences of a climate that mounting evidence suggests is changing significantly.
As the scientific community works to understand the changing climate, the chief of naval operations has created a task force, headed by Rear Adm. David Titley, the Navy's senior oceanographer, to better understand and evaluate its implications for maritime security.
“Task Force Climate Change was initiated … to assess the Navy’s preparedness to respond to emerging requirements, and to develop a science-based timeline for future Navy actions regarding climate change,” Titley explained in a July 28 interview on Pentagon Web Radio’s audio webcast “Armed with Science: Research and Applications for the Modern Military.”
Defense.gov News Article: Navy Task Force Assesses Changing Climate
So basically what your saying is that the policy now relfects the direction of CIC rightwing as it did during the last Administration. I did take note that the Navy has taken no stance to my knowledge on the causes of "climate change" at least according to my reading.
Climate change IS HAPPENING and the artic glaciers are disappearing/melting...to me those are FACTS....whether this comes from natural occurrences from our relationship with the sun, or it is all from man made pollution, or it is a combination of the two, is where the global warming/climate change debate lies....
but as far as the Arctic being traversal...i saw a Discovery channel special that said most all commercial ships that would normally cross the atlantic, taking the arctic route would SHORTEN their travel substantially and there are plans for it to be a huge traffic highway for commercial ships in the future....and that we not only have disagreements with Russia on this, but some dispute with canada as well.... this was over a year ago...
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Care, you know that being the case then the debate is NOT Settled as to the cause and lets suppose for a moment that it is a natural occurrence, then all of the efforts to change the habits of "man made" contributions to climate change are rendered mute. While I do believe its prudent to be a good steward of the environment , in terms of pollution etc. The so called settled science is not settled at all. So as the debate rages it should prove interesting where it goes.
If the Artic Sea Ice trends the way as it seems to be, then there is no dount that many will flock to exploit the resources in that region. Russia from my understanding has made it pretty clear as to their intentions. I am sure it will also lure commercial fishing to the region as well. Although given that the passage route will be shorter thats true, I am not so convinced that commercial shipping will flock to use it on a regular basis just yet. As has been pointed out though, by myself and others here, the US Navy and Russia have been in that region for years, and the article seems to imply that its something new for the US Navy when it clearly is not. The USS Nautilus comes to mind or perhaps Adm. Byrd going a little back from there.
I didn't say the science was settled on global warming/climate change? I said it was unsettled??
My point was meant to be...the arctic could be ice free enough in the near future to change our travel routes by water, fairly drastically....THAT is the FACT.
And since this is the case, then OF COURSE our navy should be involved.
On another note....I personally believe we have ALREADY tipped the scale....and warming, (then eventually... freezing) will come about and the money we spend on it should be on relocating coastal cities before the flooding from the warming or rethinking our plan for them, planning and securing new shipping routes in the Arctic and how this will affect our big ports once used for most shipments that will no longer be used, or figuring out how to convert salt water to fresh water CHEAPLY to combat the droughts to come from it, and things like that...
care