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Report Cites National Security Risks From Climate Change

09.21.16 | 4:15 pm

MANDATORY CREDIT: Paul Goldstein/Exodus/Rex Features. IMAGES OUTSIDE OF PRINT VERSION NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS. FEES APPLY FOR UNIQUE IPAD USE. Only for use in story about Paul Goldstein/Exodus's work.Melting ice caps... MANDATORY CREDIT: Paul Goldstein/Exodus/Rex Features. IMAGES OUTSIDE OF PRINT VERSION NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS. FEES APPLY FOR UNIQUE IPAD USE. Only for use in story about Paul Goldstein/Exodus's work.Melting ice caps in Spitsbergen Bearly Believable: Photographer Captures Adborable Images Of Polar Bear Cubs Playing A photographer has captured adorable images of polar bear cubs playing in the snow. As part of his tour for Exodus Travels, Paul Goldstein ventured to Spitsbergen in the north of Norway last week (19 June). The Wimbledon-based photographer and travel guide trawled through the sea ice in the north of Spitsbergen showing visitors the breath-taking icy scenery. However, Paul was shocked when one of his hawk-eyed crew spotted a mother polar bear in the distance. The sight of the polar bear came as a pleasant surprise to everyone on board. Climate change is currently the biggest threat to the survival of Polar bears; they are now officially classed as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The photographer and tour guide explained that the start of 2014 was also much warmer than usual, resulting in ice melting at a quicker rate, making it even harder for the polar bears to feed. The Icy habitat is something which the animals depend on to hunt and breed; and the phenomenon of global warming has been well documented around Spitsbergen. The polar bears are capable of swimming up to 100 miles to find food, however ice sheets are slowly melting farther and farther apart. This means that some of them are swimming dangerously long distances for nothing, and polar bear populations are noticeably decreasing because of global warming. This made Paul's photos of the healthy bears even more of a spectacular sight. Keen to get a better view of the mother ... For more information visit http://www.rexfeatures.com/stacklink/BQKWVGDRL (Rex Features via AP Images) MORE LESS

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new government report says climate change will likely pose a significant national security challenge for the U.S. over the next two decades.

In conjunction with the report, President Barack Obama has ordered federal agencies to consider the impact of climate change when developing national security policy.

The report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence forecasts an increased risk of conflict abroad resulting from disputes over water as well as increasing migrations that exacerbate social and political tensions.

Obama’s presidential memorandum establishes a dedicated team to review the effects of climate change on national security priorities.

The memorandum also directs federal agencies to develop plans to deal with an array of potential scenarios resulting from climate change, such as adverse effects on food prices and availability.

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Report Cites National Security Risks From Climate Change

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