About the Quadrennial Defense Review
The Department of Defense's Quadrennial Defense Review: “Climate change… may act as an accelerant of instability or conflict, placing a burden to respond on civilian institutions and militaries around the world”
On February 1, 2010 the Department of Defense (DoD) released the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) declaring climate change will play a “significant role in shaping the future security environment.” This is the first time the QDR has directly addressed the national security threat from climate change in its planning.In 2007, Senate Armed Services Committee members Sens. John Warner (R-VA) and Hilary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) added language to the 2008 National Defense Authorization Act requiring DoD to consider the effects of climate change on DoD facilities, capabilities, and missions. Through the QDR, the DoD is now incorporating and considering the threat of climate change into its long-range strategic plans.
A Strategy Driven Process
DoD conducted the 2010 QDR from February 2009 through January
2010 beginning with an assessment of the emerging security
landscape and the many ways in which the U.S. Armed Forces may be
called on to protect and advance the nation's interests. In
order to determine the mix of military capabilities best suited
to supporting the nation's defense strategy, the QDR was
analytically grounded. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates,
advised by other senior civilian and military leaders within the
department, reviewed, modified, and endorsed a set of scenarios
that the QDR used to help evaluate current and potential future
forces. The review provides the blueprint for what DoD will do
over the next four years.
The QDR, Energy and Climate Change
According to the 2010 QDR, climate change “will shape the
operating environment, roles, and missions” that the department
undertakes, and “DoD will need to adjust to the impacts of
climate change on our facilities and military
capabilities.”
• "Although they produce distinct types of challenges, climate change, energy security, and economic stability are inextricably linked." (page 84)
• "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." (page 85)
• "...the Department must complete a comprehensive assessment of all installations to assess the potential impacts of climate change on its missions and adapt as required." (page 85)
• "The Environmental Security and Technology Certification Program uses military installations as a test bed to demonstrate and create a market for innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies coming out of the private sector and DoD and Department of Energy laboratories." (page 86)
• "DoD must incorporate geostrategic and operational energy considerations into force planning, requirements development, and acquisition processes. To address these challenges, DoD will fully implement the statutory requirement for the energy efficiency Key Performance Parameter and fully burdened cost of fuel set forth in the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act." (page 87)
• "The Department will also investigate alternative concepts for improving operational energy use, including the creation of an innovation fund administered by the new Director of Operational Energy to enable components to compete for funding on projects that advance integrated energy solutions." (page 87)
• "The Department is increasing its use of renewable energy supplies and reducing energy demand to improve operational effectiveness, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in support of U.S. climate change initiatives, and protect the Department from energy price fluctuations." (page 87)
Download a pdf of the fact sheet
To read the full climate section of the QDR, visit: www.defense.gov
