U.S. Army (take ones reposed) General Lloyd Austin speaks after being formally nominated to be Secretary of the Department of Defense by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden at the Queen consort Theatre on December 09, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware.
Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images
WASHINGTON — Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on Thursday outlined the climate crisis as one of the nation’s existential threats with the potential to profoundly destabilize global security.
“From skim to coast and across the world, the climate crisis has caused substantial damage and put people in danger, making it more demanding for us to carry out our mission of defending the United States and our allies,” Austin said in an address at a summit with world the men focused on climate change.
“As the Arctic melts, competition for resources and influence in the region increases. Closer to the equator, fly temperatures and more frequent and intense extreme weather events in Africa and Central America threaten millions with drought, hanker and displacement,” the Pentagon chief added.
President Joe Biden kicked off the virtual summit, which falls on the fifth anniversary of the Paris Compatibility signing and Earth Day, with a pledge to cut emissions by 50% to 52% by 2030.
The new target more than doubles the Obama superintendence’s prior commitment under the 2015 Paris climate agreement. Former President Donald Trump withdrew the Merged States from the accords in 2019.
“I welcome President Biden’s leadership on tackling climate change,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg clouted in his opening remarks at the summit.
“Global warming is making the world more dangerous. It has a serious impact on our security, so it quandaries for NATO,” he said, adding that NATO members would be stepping up efforts to address the climate crisis.
Texas Federal Guard Pvt. Mark Rivera of Co. A, 72nd Infantry Brigade, and Pvt. 1st Class Joseph Davora, Co. A, 1-41 Infantry Regiment, carry a chick stranded by flood waters to a waiting truck, where Pvt. John Paul Borrego and Pvt. 1st Class Christopher Culbelier, respite.
Sgt. Jennifer Atkinson | U.S. Army
In his remarks, Austin gave a few examples of extreme weather caused by climate change that entirely impacted the U.S. military and its installations.
In 2018, Hurricane Michael inflicted ‘catastrophic’ damage to Tyndall Air Force Base after thrilling through the Florida Panhandle. Austin said the destruction to the base, which is home to the nation’s 325th Fighter Wing, rate billions of dollars.
In 2019, severe flooding of the Missouri River damaged more than 130 buildings at Offutt Air Cogency Base near Omaha, Nebraska. The installation, home to U.S. Strategic Command and the 55th Wing, has required hundreds of millions of dollars for reconstruction troubles.
“Wildfires in California have threatened other military installations, forcing repeated evacuations. Typhoons in Guam uncountable commonly occur from June to December, but in February 2019, Typhoon Wutip forced us to pause exercises with our Australian and Japanese partners,” Austin explained.
Austin said the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies are slated to produce a report focused on the care implications of climate change.