Tuesday, February 8, 2022
What is it?
The U.S. Army Climate Strategy is the framework for a long-term endeavor to operationalize climate adaptation and mitigation across the Army. The strategy drives actions to enhance readiness, resiliency and capabilities of the force. By implementing the lines of effort (LOE) outlined in the Army Climate Strategy, the Army will achieve the goals of a resilient and sustainable land force able to operate in all domains with effective adaptation and mitigation measures against climate change, consistent with Army modernization efforts.
LOE 1: Installations: Enhance resilience and sustainability by adapting infrastructure and natural environments to climate change risks, securing access to training and testing lands into the future, and mitigating GHG emissions
LOE 2: Acquisition & Logistics: Increase operational capability while reducing sustainment demand and strengthening climate resilience
LOE 3: Training: Prepare a force that is ready to operate in a climate-altered world
What are the current and past efforts of the Army?
The Army’s focus on climate change is not new. Climate change presents a complex, evolving challenge that has been addressed for decades. Longstanding Army environmental, energy efficiency, and sustainability efforts have made strides to reduce energy demand and curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Over the last several decades, the Army has responded to the impacts of climate change and managed increases in extreme weather, wildfires, drought effecting installations and ranges, environmental impacts to the operating environment, and human health.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned?
The Army takes its mission and its pride in stewardship of lands and resources for the American people seriously. The Army is taking, and will continue to take, several actions — all of which in turn will reduce GHG emissions. End state goals include:
Achieve 50% reduction in Army net GHG pollution by 2030, compared to 2005 levels
Attain net-zero Army GHG emissions by 2050
Proactively consider the security implications of climate change in strategy, planning, acquisition, supply chain and programming documents and processes.
Why is this important to the Army?
The Army Climate Strategy creates irreversible momentum to enhance Army readiness and resilience for the next 30 years. By building upon decades of research, development and innovation, the Army will become the resilient and sustainable land force that the nation needs. The Army will lead by example in helping the United States mitigate climate change while ensuring competitive overmatch in crisis and conflict, and adapting to a rapidly changing landscape.
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“The time to address climate change is now. The effects of climate change have taken a toll on supply chains, damaged our infrastructure and increased risks to Army Soldiers and families due to natural disasters and extreme weather. The Army must adapt across our entire enterprise and purposefully pursue greenhouse gas mitigation strategies to reduce climate risks. If we do not take action now, across our installations, acquisition and logistics, and training, our options to mitigate these risks will become more constrained with each passing year.”
— Christine Wormuth, Secretary of the Army