New Zealand Celsias

Scientific American   is asking some very interesting questions about the CIA and climate change. You may be aware that in 2009 established a Center on Climate Change and National Security dedicated to researching the implications of rising sea levels, declining agricultural yields and other climate change impacts.

No secret there. But when a National Security Archive historian asked the CIA for a copy of any impact studies or reports the center has done in March 2010. But the CIA responded   (pdf) this September that such material is quote "currently and properly classified and must be denied in its entirety."

Here's that letter from the CIA saying the information would be kept from the public.

Dear Mr. Richelson: 

This is a final response to your 1 March 2010 Freedom of  Information Act (FOIA) request for "Any studies or reports  (greater than 5 pages In length) produced by the  CIA Center  on Climate  Change  and National Security concerning Impacts of  global warming. "   We processed your request in accordance with the FOIA~ 5 U.S. C.  § 552~ as amended, and the CIA Information Act, 50 U.S.C. § 431, as amended.  Our  processing included a search for records as described in our 22 March 2010 acceptance letter existing through the date of  that letter. 

We completed a thorough search for records responsive to your request and located material that we detennined is currently and properly classified and must be denied in its entirety on the  basis of FOIA exemptions (b)(l) and (b)(3).  Exemption (b)(3) pertains to information exempt from disclosure by statute.  The relevant statute is the Central Intelligence Agency Act  of  1949, 50 U .S.C.  § 403, as amended, e.g.,

Section 6, which exempts from the disclosure requirement information pertaining to the organization, functions, including those related to the protection ofintelligence sources and methods, names, official titles~ salaries, and numbers of  personnel employed by the Agency.  An explanation of  exemptions is enclosed.  As the CIA Information and Privacy Coordinator,. I am the CIA official responsible for this determination.  You have the right to appeal this response to the Agency Release Panel, in my care, within 45 days from the date of this letter.  Please include the basis of  your appeal. 

Enclosure 

Sincerely, 

Susan Viscuso 

Information and Privacy Coordinator

The CIA   claims to be concerned about the "protection of intelligence sources and methods, names, official titles, salaries, and numbers of personnel."

But Scientific American goes on to ask:

"Is it a secret that satellites and ground observations show a meltdown in Arctic sea ice   that will open new shipping lanes—and security concerns—for the first time in recorded history? To take just one example.

Climate change impacts and their security implications   appear almost wherever science looks. In fact, physicist Richard Muller and his group at the University of California at Berkeley confirmed this week that global average temperatures have been rising  . Again. That's no secret"

Well, the history of the CIA give us no cause to have any faith in them whatsoever...so what is going on here?