Armed Forces News

Climate change is posing significant risks to mission readiness, according to a white paper published this month by the Pentagon’s office of acquisition and sustainment.

Meeting the challenge would require adapting present and future operations. The report referred to several initiatives, including:

* A Naval Facilities Engineering Command handbook that addresses climate-change impact and options for adapting to the conditions it presents.
* Department-wide changes to high-performance and sustainable building requirements, with updated guidance for planning, designing, renovating and maintaining these facilities.
* Continuous efforts by the Army Corps of Engineers “to develop assessment and adaptation tools” that would deal with “risks associated with potential changing weather patterns.”
* A DoD directive to all levels of the agency, “assigning responsibilities … for incorporating climate considerations into planning for infrastructure and operations.”

These actions should focus on the assessment and management of climate change-related risks and impacts.