Source: Citizens' Climate Lobby's December National Call with Retired Navy Rear Admiral David Titley, December 5, 2015.

Notes: During this conference call, Madeliene Para, the host of the call, asked Dr. Titley this question: "Do you get many opportunities to talk with members of Congress? (If so,) do you have a sense that the security aspect of climate change resonates with them?"

Extended Quote by Dr. David Titley: 

"I get to talk to members (of Congress) from time to time...

My assessment is most right of center politicians do in fact understand the science. Some are really beholden to very strong views that are not likely to change for a variety of reasons.

But there are many who I think are not completely locked in, but they understand the politics as least as well as the climate. They probably understand the politics a lot better because they did not get where they are by accident...

If you talk with (former) Congressman Bob Inglis, it's a very interesting story of just hinting to the voters that you might want to engage on the climate issue and you then find yourself out of a job. 

So I ask my left of center, environnmental friends, for a quick show of hands: 'Who wants to be fired on Tuesday?'

Surpringly enough, nobody raises their hands. I then say, 'to a surprisingly degree, some if not all, the right of center politicians are dealing with. You can either ignore this issue, slow roll it, hope it goes away, and keep your job. Or, if you roll it out the wrong way, the next thing you know you are both going to get climate hero awards and collecting an unemployment paycheck because they do not want to be the next Bob Inglis.'... 

So how do we build enough support so that this is an issue that can be talked about in district without it being a firing offense? Also, are there different ways to frame this so we get to the end objective: How do we decarbonize the energy system? How do we talk about this in a way that has not been talked about before?... 

How do we make sure that U.S. companies and cities lead the 21st century energy revolution? We will transition. There is no doubt we are going to transition. 

We can either do it quickly, which would be better, or slowly which would be a lot worse. We can either lead it from San Francisco, Seattle, Detriot, Charlotte, and Boston, or we can lead it from Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. I would argue I would rather see the former. 

How can we make that happen? I can have that conversation without even using the 'C' word...

Everyone knows this is not about the science...It is about the policy and risk management. Ultimately, how we position ourselves in the 21st century that benefits not just us, but the world."

Image Source: pcog.org