Last updated 4 months ago. Our resources are updated regularly but please keep in mind that links, programs, policies, and contact information do change.
- The Military’s Climate Concern
- How the Pentagon Defines Climate Risk
- The Pentagon’s Climate Policy Framework
- Real Impacts on Military Operations
- Protecting Military Bases
- Cutting the Pentagon’s Carbon Footprint
- Money Matters: Funding Climate Security
- Working Together: Partnerships and Collaboration
- A Changing Climate for Climate Policy
- Key DoD Climate Strategy Elements
- Real-World Climate Impacts on Military Operations
- Case Studies: When Climate Hits Home
- The Road Ahead: Questions About Military Climate Policy
For years, the Pentagon has viewed climate change as a serious threat to national security. But recent leadership changes signal a potential shift in how America’s military approaches environmental challenges.
This article examines the Department of Defense’s climate policies, how they’ve evolved, and what recent changes might mean for military readiness.
The Military’s Climate Concern
Over the past decade, the Department of Defense (DoD) has increasingly recognized climate change as a critical factor in national security planning.
Former Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin repeatedly called climate change an “existential threat” to America’s security. His stance shaped military budgets and strategies designed to make forces more resilient against climate impacts while reducing the Pentagon’s own carbon footprint.
But the winds appear to be shifting. Current Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has signaled a return to traditional priorities—focusing on “lethality, warfighting capabilities, and overall readiness” while moving away from climate initiatives he sees as distractions from the military’s core mission.
How the Pentagon Defines Climate Risk
The DoD’s climate strategy is built on a specific understanding of the threat. According to DoD Directive 4715.21, climate change means:
- Long-term shifts in average weather over decades
- Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns
- Increased likelihood of severe weather events
Beyond environmental concerns, the Pentagon views climate change as a “threat multiplier” that can:
- Worsen resource shortages
- Trigger mass migration
- Destabilize vulnerable regions
- Create new security risks, particularly in the Arctic as sea ice retreats
The DoD Climate Risk Analysis identifies specific hazards including melting glaciers, rising seas, increased flooding, more intense droughts, greater wildfire risk, and stronger tropical storms—each with serious implications for global security.
The Pentagon’s Climate Policy Framework
The formal structure for the DoD’s climate approach comes primarily from DoD Directive 4715.21, “Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience,” first issued in 2016 and updated in 2018. This directive sets the department’s overall policy and defines responsibilities across military branches.
Building on this framework, the DoD created Climate Adaptation Plans for 2021 and 2024-2027. These strategic roadmaps integrate climate considerations into all aspects of military operations—from planning and resources to training and infrastructure.
The Climate Adaptation Plans focus on five main areas:
- Climate-informed decision-making using data-driven assessments
- Training a climate-ready force capable of operating in extreme weather
- Hardening military infrastructure against environmental changes
- Building resilient supply chains that can function in challenging conditions
- Strengthening adaptation through partnerships with other agencies and allies
Executive Order 14008, issued in 2021, further mandated that climate security implications be incorporated into all relevant DoD strategies and planning processes, reinforcing the whole-of-government approach.
Real Impacts on Military Operations
Climate change isn’t just a future threat—it’s already affecting military readiness and operations in concrete ways.
Extreme weather events disrupt training schedules, damage crucial infrastructure, and drain resources. When the National Guard deploys to fight wildfires or provide hurricane relief, those troops aren’t training for their primary combat missions.
The changing environment directly affects how military equipment performs, impacts personnel health, and can make certain operations impossible. These challenges cost real money: recent hurricanes and floods have caused billions in damage to military bases, forcing the Pentagon to divert funds for repairs rather than mission improvements.
Protecting Military Bases
The DoD has implemented various measures to protect its bases from climate impacts:
- The Defense Climate Assessment Tool (DCAT) evaluates climate hazard exposure at installations worldwide
- Construction of protective structures like berms and floodwalls
- Elevation of critical infrastructure including roadways
- Retrofitting existing buildings to withstand extreme weather
- Development of microgrids with renewable energy for power resilience
Each military branch has developed its own climate strategy tailored to its unique vulnerabilities and requirements.
Cutting the Pentagon’s Carbon Footprint
Beyond adapting to climate impacts, the DoD has worked to reduce its own environmental footprint by:
- Improving energy efficiency across military operations
- Increasing efficiency of planes, ships, and vehicles
- Investing in renewable energy technologies
- Exploring carbon capture methods
The department set a long-term goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and has been transitioning to carbon-free electricity at its facilities.
Money Matters: Funding Climate Security
Addressing climate security requires significant resources. Recent budgets reflect this priority:
- The FY2024 budget requested $3.7 billion for installation resilience and adaptation
- The FY2023 budget allocated billions to enhance combat capability while mitigating climate risks
However, some GOP lawmakers have proposed cutting funding for climate initiatives within the DoD budget, signaling potential shifts in financial priorities.
Working Together: Partnerships and Collaboration
The Pentagon recognizes that climate security requires teamwork. The DoD actively collaborates with:
- Other federal agencies like the Departments of Energy and State
- International allies to share best practices and enhance collective resilience
- Partners across government and industry to develop comprehensive approaches
Sharing tools like DCAT with allies exemplifies this international cooperation.
A Changing Climate for Climate Policy
Recent statements from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicate a significant shift in the DoD’s approach. The new leadership has:
- Emphasized a return to focus on military lethality and warfighting readiness
- Signaled a move away from climate change initiatives deemed inconsistent with core objectives
- Terminated over 90 studies, reportedly including research on climate impacts, migration patterns, and social trends
- Suggested the DoD will reduce its engagement in climate-specific discussions
Despite this apparent pivot, some observers note that related efforts may continue under different labels such as “natural hazard resilience” and preparation for extreme weather events.
Key DoD Climate Strategy Elements
The DoD’s climate adaptation approach focuses on these five lines of effort:
| Line of Effort | Description |
|---|---|
| Climate-informed decision-making | Utilize climate assessments and data to inform strategic and operational decisions across the Department. |
| Train and equip a climate-ready force | Ensure military personnel are prepared and equipped to operate effectively in extreme and variable weather conditions. |
| Infrastructure to support military operations | Adapt and enhance military infrastructure to withstand the impacts of climate change and support continued operations. |
| Supply chain resilience and innovation | Strengthen the resilience of military supply chains and leverage purchasing power to promote climate-friendly technologies. |
| Enhance adaptation and resilience through collaboration | Work with other federal agencies, Congress, U.S. allies, and partners to share knowledge and develop coordinated approaches to climate change adaptation and resilience. |
Real-World Climate Impacts on Military Operations
Climate hazards are already affecting military readiness in tangible ways:
| Climate Hazard | Impact on Military Readiness and Operations |
|---|---|
| Sea-level rise | Threatens coastal military bases with inundation, erosion, and increased flooding, potentially disrupting naval operations, amphibious training, and special operations. |
| Extreme heat | Limits the time available for outdoor training, affects the performance of military equipment, and poses health risks to personnel. |
| Wildfires | Can disrupt or cancel field training and live-gunnery exercises, damage military installations, and require the deployment of military personnel for firefighting efforts. |
| Hurricanes and Typhoons | Cause catastrophic damage to military bases, disrupting operations and requiring extensive and costly repairs, as seen at Tyndall Air Force Base and Camp Lejeune. |
| Flooding | Damages infrastructure, disrupts training, and can isolate military installations, impacting the ability to deploy forces and maintain readiness, as experienced at Offutt Air Force Base and Naval Station Norfolk. |
| Drought | Can lead to water scarcity on military installations and in surrounding communities, potentially affecting operations and the well-being of personnel and their families. |
Case Studies: When Climate Hits Home
Tyndall Air Force Base: Hurricane Michael’s Devastating Impact
In October 2018, Hurricane Michael slammed into Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida as a Category 5 storm. The hurricane destroyed or damaged nearly every structure on the base, grounded aircraft, and caused approximately $5 billion in damage. The catastrophe disrupted operations for years and required massive rebuilding efforts, forcing the Air Force to divert resources from other priorities.
During reconstruction, the Air Force incorporated climate resilience measures, including structures designed to withstand future storms, updated building codes, and more robust power systems.
Norfolk Naval Station: Rising Seas, Rising Concerns
As the world’s largest naval base, Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia has become the poster child for sea level rise challenges. The base experiences regular “sunny day flooding” during high tides, with water backing up through storm drains even without rainfall.
The Navy has invested millions in flood-resistant infrastructure, raised piers, and improved drainage systems. Engineers now design all new facilities with several feet of elevation above projected sea levels. For Norfolk, climate adaptation isn’t theoretical—it’s essential for daily operations.
Fort Hood: Extreme Weather Swings
Texas-based Fort Hood has faced both severe drought and catastrophic flooding in recent years. A 2011 drought stressed water supplies, while 2015 floods caused training disruptions and millions in damage to roads and facilities.
In response, the base installed water conservation systems, redesigned drainage infrastructure, and developed more resilient training schedules that can adapt to unpredictable weather patterns.
The Road Ahead: Questions About Military Climate Policy
As the DoD potentially shifts its approach to climate change, several important questions emerge:
- Can the military maintain climate resilience while reducing its focus on climate change as a strategic issue?
- Will reframing climate initiatives as “natural hazard resilience” preserve necessary adaptation measures?
- How will potential funding cuts affect ongoing projects to protect bases and personnel?
- What might reduced climate research mean for the military’s ability to anticipate future security threats?
The answers will unfold in coming years as the Pentagon navigates between traditional military priorities and the physical realities of a changing climate.
Our articles make government information more accessible. Please consult a qualified professional for financial, legal, or health advice specific to your circumstances.