America Wants You, To Get Tough on Climate Change

Military leaders from around the world convened in Paris on Monday to discuss the role of the military in fighting climate change. Participants graciously sacrificed hours of watching election returns on TV to discuss a host of issues that will certainly be important to the next administration. The meeting acknowledges a growing consensus that climate change is affecting all sectors of society and that national governments and intergovernmental institutions are taking insufficient steps to combat it. Concluding yesterday, the conference sought to establish climate change as a security priority and to discuss policy solutions. In the United States, engaging the military in climate change policy is a wise idea, seeing as the military is the largest energy consumer, accounting for roughly 1% of the total. The Department of Defense also has the resources to be a part of the solution if it devotes a substantial portion of its exceptionally large budget to research and development. Military leaders point to the successful phasing out of ozone depleting substances as proof that the military cares about the environment and that it can change its ways. Defense and climate experts from around the globe, including representatives of the EPA, the Department of Defense, the UN Environmental Program, and Environmental and Defense Ministries of France, Germany, Italy, the Netherland, and the UK, participated in the conference so its conclusions are sure to have some weight. Keep your eyes peeled for a conference report (forthcoming) that will outline some points of agreement and strategies for moving forward.