DOD convenes climate summit to strengthen regional security collaboration

On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Defense hosted the Climate and Defense Summit of the Americas to gather senior leaders in the Western Hemisphere to address defense and security challenges posed by climate change.

Officials said the summit, held at the U.S. Naval Academy on Aug. 22 and 23, capped off a series of regional events held in partnership with defense and security agencies, military leaders, civilian officials, scientists, emergency response experts and other representatives that emphasized the increasing impact climate change is having on military readiness, operational capabilities and infrastructure resilience.

Climate change, the DOD said, is an existential threat to national security. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks said, “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 focused on integrating resilience into defense planning, resource allocation, operations, and security cooperation with the goal of ensuring sustained readiness; having strategic discussions around building climate-resilient military forces, operations and infrastructure; and strengthening the role of defense forces in disaster preparedness and response.

“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,” Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, Rebecca Zimmerman, said. Adding that our “commitment to enhancing climate adaptation and resilience extends by, with, and through international collaboration.”

Officials said the discussions will continue at the Conference of Defense Ministers of the Americas ministerial, in October in Argentina.

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