WASHINGTON – In a speech Friday, U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, D-Colo., commented about the effects of global warming on national security.

Udall’s remarks were in response to a speech by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel earlier that day.

“Global warming is one of the most significant challenges of our time. Secretary Hagel’s comments today rightly highlight the threat it poses to our national security,” Udall said.

Hagel’s speech voiced his concerns about the growing number of natural disasters and extreme weather that could be a result of climate change.

“(The) Secretary of Defense has delivered a key message that (the) Department of Defense must operate in a sustainable manner across the globe and be prepared to respond to increasing natural disasters and extreme weather events,” Hagel said.

This sentiment was echoed by Udall, who also voiced concerns about American energy dependence on other countries.

“Melting arctic ice and rising sea levels will require our armed forces to defend new frontiers and incite additional uncertainty and instability abroad,” Udall said. “This underscores the urgency of issues I have championed, including developing advanced biofuels to lessen our dependency on other countries, reduce our carbon footprint and save taxpayer money.

“Now, more than ever, we must pursue a balanced approach to meeting our military’s energy needs to prepare us for 21st-century security challenges,” he said.

Udall serves as a senior member on the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee and the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Suzanne Gaber is a student at American University in Washington, D.C., and an intern for The Durango Herald. Reach her at sgaber@durangoherald.com.