U.S. Defense Review Boosts Case for National Climate Action

The U.S. military could soon be drawing up disaster-response plans to prepare for global warming-caused crises, such as rising sea levels and extreme weather events, according to the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), published on Monday along with President Obama's defense budget for 2011.

The mention of climate change is a first for the Congress-mandated QDR, released every four years to shape the nation's defense.

"Although they produce distinct types of challenges, climate change, energy security, and economic stability are inextricably linked," the QDR authors wrote.

The reference suggests a strong consensus is emerging within the defense community concerning the national security implications of a warming planet. Yet it arrives at a time of considerable challenges for climate advocates in America, with both the U.S. Senate and President Obama appearing to be backing down from a House-approved cap-and-trade law this year.

Some observers say the QDR should spur Senate action.

"With this statement, it is clear that action is needed to prevent climate change in the cause of American safety and security," said Jonathan Murray, campaign manager for the non-profit war veterans group Operation Free Campaign. "The longer we delay, the longer these threats have time to gather."

The review is also seen as a boost for global warming science, as the UN climate change body gets pummeled with fresh allegations of faulty projections concerning future climate effects.

Indeed, the QDR suggests enough scientific evidence exists on coming climate danger to warrant attention from the world's biggest military.

According to the report, "Climate change will contribute to food and water scarcity, will increase the spread of disease, and may spur or exacerbate mass migration." But the real fear is that warming will exacerbate the current mix of complex security threats and tax an already overburdened military.

"While climate change alone does not cause conflict, it may act as an accelerant of instability or conflict, placing a burden to respond on civilian institutions and militaries around the world," the authors wrote.

"In addition, extreme weather events may lead to increased demands for defense support to civil authorities for humanitarian assistance or disaster response both within the United States and overseas."

A beefed up natural disaster force is one of two major climate-related initiatives mentioned in the review.

Speaking to reporters, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Michele Flournoy highlighted the Pentagon's commitment to cut foreign oil consumption and to be a national leader in embracing renewable energy and efficiency.

"DOD's enormous dependence on energy makes our operations vulnerable to disruptions in energy flows and to fluctuations in prices," Flournoy said.

According to the QDR, the department is already making strides to step up its renewables use and downsize energy demand in part for "operational effectiveness" and in part to "reduce greenhouse gas emissions in support of U.S. climate change initiatives." Domestic military outposts are beginning to switch vehicles from gasoline to electricity and other alternative fuels.

Operation Free Campaign called the review "unprecedented." But the integration of climate change into Pentagon planning did not come out of nowhere.

In the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress charged the Department of Defense with considering the effects of global warming on all of its "facilities, capabilities and missions" and to put them into the next QDR.

The 2006 version, written during the Bush-Rumsfeld years, made no mention of the warming threat.

But already back in 2003, a shift was palpable. The Defense Department commissioned a report, which concluded that climate effects could "potentially destabilize the geopolitical environment, leading to skirmishes, battles, and even war due to resource constraints."