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 | May 16, 2019
Mixed reviews on targeted tax break for San Francisco neighborhood
“Twitter tax break” may have worsened some of the area’s problems.
Codes and Standards | May 15, 2019
OSHA inspections to increase, says Secretary of Labor
Newly hired inspectors getting up to speed.
Codes and Standards | May 14, 2019
Database records more than 1,360 K-12 school shooting incidents since 1970
Naval Postgraduate School program maps locations nationwide.
Codes and Standards | May 13, 2019
In many cities, downtown housing comes with a hefty premium
Urban core living costs hundreds of thousands more in largest U.S. cities.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
San Francisco plan would require largest commercial buildings to use 100% renewable electricity
First in the U.S. mandate would be phased in from 2022 to 2030.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
ABC says best practices can improve construction companies’ safety by 680%
Daily ‘toolbox safety talks’ were most effective safety measures.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
Office noise significantly reducing employee concentration, productivity, and creativity
Workplace distractions cause some to choose to work remotely.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
WSP USA says it will be carbon neutral in 2019
Engineering firm will offset carbon at all offices and with employee business travel.
Codes and Standards | Apr 25, 2019
Report: Contractors invest $1.6 billion in workforce development annually
ABC members increased training spending 45% from 2013, according to a new report.
Codes and Standards | Apr 25, 2019
New York City’s Green New Deal would ban all-glass skyscrapers
The ambitious plan would also boost affordable housing, reduce building emissions, and update codes to account for sea level rise.