Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel recently spoke of the major challenges facing America’s military resulting from climate change. Among the challenges the armed forces may face is rising sea levels that could put Navy docks and other installations under water in places like Norfolk, Va., Honolulu, and other coastal locations.
The Pentagon has been working for years to reduce the military's carbon footprint by using alternative fuels and more stringent energy-efficiency construction standards. Despite these efforts, the military was responsible for 71% of the federal government's carbon footprint in 2010. A federal greenhouse gas report said that more than 60% of the Pentagon's carbon footprint cannot be reduced easily.
A newly released Defense Department report identifies four things that will affect the U.S. military due to climate change: rising global temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, more extreme weather, and rising sea levels. It calls on the department and the military to identify specific concerns, including possible effects on the more than 7,000 bases and facilities worldwide, and to start putting plans in place to deal with them.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/13/climate-change-military_n_5975734.html)
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | Apr 5, 2021
Construction employment rebounds in March following February drop
Rising costs, supply-chain woes, and cancellations threaten outlook.
Codes and Standards | Apr 2, 2021
Intl. Code Council’s new development system could be a brake on building decarbonization
Local governments lose influence on creating new energy efficiency rules.
Codes and Standards | Apr 1, 2021
Cuomo proposes strengthened NY building codes to boost efficiency
Would apply to appliance, equipment efficiency and reduce water use.
Codes and Standards | Mar 25, 2021
N.C.’s Outer Banks’ communities struggle for ways to keep the sea from overrunning them
Tax hikes for beach replenishment offer temporary solution.
Codes and Standards | Mar 24, 2021
Perkins&Will’s D.C. office pledges to eliminate embodied carbon in commercial interiors
Firm aims to reach goal on all designs by 2030.
Codes and Standards | Mar 23, 2021
The 15-minute city may not work in much of North America
Segregated neighborhoods and car-centric cities may not adapt to the European model.
Codes and Standards | Mar 22, 2021
Think tank offers plan for new approach to reduce neighborhood poverty
Strategy uses more targeted approach to invest in low-income areas.
Codes and Standards | Mar 19, 2021
California city bans construction of new gas stations
Existing stations will not be allowed to add more pumps.
Codes and Standards | Mar 18, 2021
Congressmen ask Biden to tackle rising lumber costs
Rising materials costs and supply shortages threaten economic recovery, housing starts.
Codes and Standards | Mar 16, 2021
Massachusetts bill would mandate rooftop solar on new homes, commercial buildings
Proposed Bay State mandate modeled on California’s.