DoD continues climate change prep

The Navy has launched an effort in San Diego to monitor and prepare for a sea level rise. Marine Corps’ Parris Island (S.C.) leaders are considering building a sea wall to ward off rising tides. The Air Force is looking at “climate vulnerability” as they plan and construct bases. These are examples how the Defense Department (DoD) overall is forging ahead with detailed plans to deal with climate change – under the radar of the Trump administration’s lack of emphasis across government. Insiders say a look beneath the surface shows DoD climate initiatives have continued mostly unimpeded from the political debate. DoD oversees some 800 military installations in 70 countries. SECDEF James Mattis has explicitly called climate change a threat to U.S. national security interests. One of the biggest risks is Naval Station Norfolk, Va., which houses the Atlantic Fleet, and could become a perpetual risk of flooding. Tom Hicks, a two-time acting Undersecretary of the Navy, said: “I don’t know what (superstorm Sandy) would’ve done for our forces” had it hit Norfolk. Hicks now serves as a founding principal of The Mabus Group, an advisory firm founded by former Navy Secretary and Mississippi governor Ray Mabus. The Pentagon has turned its attention to specific issues at specific bases. Military bases have extreme weather plans, and commanders are being encouraged to work with local communities to address shared issues regarding environmental impacts, according to a DoD spokesperson. (Source: Washington Times 06/04/18) Gulf Coast Note: Major storms along the Gulf Coast have devastated several military installations within the past15 years: Keesler AFB, Miss., in 2005’s Hurricane Katrina; 2014 at NAS Pensacola, Fla., from Hurricane Ivan. Additionally, Eglin AFB, Fla. - the largest AF base in the world - faces storm surges, sea-level rise and saltwater infiltration, which could cause problems with freshwater resources in the area. With the increase of extreme weather, Eglin may face costly damages in the future. Eglin was identified among the top five ‘Most Vulnerable Military Installations’ in an American Security Project as far back as 2012.