The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence last week approved the FY’08 Intelligence Authorization bill, which includes a provision to require the Director of National Intelligence to produce a formal intelligence assessment on the potential national security impacts of climate change. Sponsored by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.), John Warner (R-Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), and Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) the bill requires the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to produce a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) on the impacts to national security from global climate change within 270 days. It requires other agencies with climate change-related expertise to cooperate in writing the NIE, and authorizes the DNI to work with outside groups as needed.

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