Pentagon Spokesman Lt. Col Devin T. Robinson provided the following readout:
The U.S. Department of Defense hosted the Climate and Defense Summit of the Americas at the U.S. Naval Academy on August 22-23, 2024, with senior leaders from across the Western Hemisphere to address the defense and security challenges that climate change poses and to enhance regional collaboration.
Climate change is an existential threat to national security. Underscoring the Department of Defense's determination to supporting whole of government and allies' and partners' strategies, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said that "none of us can tackle the climate challenge alone. We have a better chance of tackling the threat when we find ways to confront it together."
The summit capped off a series of regional events held in partnership with defense and security agencies convening military leaders, civilian officials, scientists, emergency response experts, and representatives from non-governmental organizations that emphasized how climate change is increasingly impacting military readiness, operational capabilities, and infrastructure resilience — requiring immediate coordinated action across the region.
"Climate change is reshaping our strategic landscape, requiring dynamic responses and strengthened partnerships to ensure our forces are prepared for the challenges while fostering a resolute commitment to partnership across the Americas to strengthen readiness and regional response mechanisms," said Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, Rebecca Zimmerman. Adding that our "commitment to enhancing climate adaptation and resilience extends by, with, and through international collaboration."
With a focus on integrating resilience into defense planning, resource allocation, operations, and security cooperation to ensure sustained readiness, discussions included strategies for building climate-resilient military forces, operations, and infrastructure, utilizing advanced data analytics for decision-making, and strengthening the critical role of defense forces in disaster preparedness and response.
These discussions will continue during the Climate and Environmental Challenges from a Defense Perspective Working Committee at the upcoming Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas ministerial, which Argentina is hosting in October 2024.
For more information: www.climate.mil and Spotlight: Tackling the Climate Crisis.