At U.N., a new climate debate

The U.N. Security Council spent time yesterday debating about whether to debate the security risks posed by global warming. Some members argued that floods, droughts, rising sea levels and other ill effects of climate change - particularly on already poor or unstable regions - could lead to new but predictable security problems. Others said the council should stick to subjects more traditionally part of its purview. The U.N., with its International Panel on Climate Change, has long been a reasoned and prescient voice on the subject, and this seems to be a better-safe-than-sorry situation.