WEBVTT 00:07.157 --> 00:10.591 Hello, I'm Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks. 00:11.222 --> 00:15.000 Today, the Department of Defense faces a growing climate crisis 00:15.000 --> 00:17.500 that impacts U.S. national security. 00:17.500 --> 00:22.000 Abroad, from the Arctic to the South China Sea, climate change is 00:22.500 --> 00:26.000 generating new missions and affecting our operational environment. 00:26.500 --> 00:30.000 At home, from climate driven wildfires in California 00:30.500 --> 00:34.000 to more aggressive and frequent hurricanes off the east coast, 00:34.000 --> 00:39.000 extreme weather is damaging our installations and eroding mission readiness. 00:39.500 --> 00:42.000 Increased incidents of extreme weather and natural disasters, 00:42.000 --> 00:53.000 and saw firsthand the devastating effects of climate change 00:53.000 --> 00:55.000 on our training facilities. 00:55.000 --> 00:58.000 I also spoke with commanders at neighboring bases 00:58.000 --> 01:02.000 about the challenges that climate change poses to their installations 01:02.000 --> 01:05.000 and their ability to carry out critical missions. 01:05.000 --> 01:23.000 And Naval Station Mayport and Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay 01:23.000 --> 01:25.000 have had millions of dollars in damage to 01:25.000 --> 01:29.000 their installations because of Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Irma. 01:29.000 --> 01:50.000 To focus and prioritize our efforts, 01:50.000 --> 01:53.000 the secretary established a climate working group. 01:53.000 --> 01:57.000 It will ensure we incorporate the security implications of 01:57.000 --> 02:07.000 And I am personally working to ensure we have a range 02:07.000 --> 02:10.000 of options to expand our investments in the sustainability 02:10.000 --> 02:13.000 and resilience of our military installations, 02:13.000 --> 02:17.000 as well as the efficiency of our operational assets. 02:17.000 --> 02:21.000 Meeting the climate threat to our readiness will require 02:21.000 --> 02:23.000 decisive and collective action, 02:23.000 --> 02:26.000 and I firmly believe we can meet this challenge head on. 02:26.000 --> 02:29.000 We must, and we are.