And Now, a Word From Britain's Ministry of Defence

From time to time this blog refers to research papers on climate change released by the Pentagon and Britain's Ministry of Defence.

The Brits recently released the sixth edition of their "Global Strategic Trends: the future starts today."

It's not pleasant reading, it's not entertaining. The central theme is, "the rate of change and level of uncertainty may outpace good governance and unity”. Run that through your mind - two or three times. Given what's transpired over the past ten years, it's hardly implausible.

Like most papers, "the future starts today" is fashioned for a particular target audience. Like most papers I link to I don't expect many will have the time to read it. Fortunately, in this case, there's a YouTube video to accompany the report suitably watered down so as not to distress the general audience.



Earlier this month, the US Center for Climate and Security released its latest overview of the Pentagon's position and preparedness, "Chronology of U.S. Military Statements and Actions on Climate Change and Security: Jan 2017- Oct 2019."  It lists 35 senior Defense Department officials who have "publicly raised concerns" about climate change. Quite a list:

This includes then-Secretary of Defense, James Mattis; Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Paul J. Selva; Secretary of the Navy, Richard Spencer; Chief of the National Guard Bureau, General Joseph Lengyel; Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment (IE&E), Lucian L. Niemeyer; Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, R.D. James; Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations, Energy, and the Environment, Phyllis L. Bayer; Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment, and Energy, John Henderson; Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Glenn Walters; Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Bill Moran; Air Force Vice Chief of Staff, General Stephen Wilson; Army Vice Chief of Staff, General James McConville; AFRICOM Commander General Thomas D. Waldhauser; Air Force Director of Civil Engineers, Major General Timothy Green; NORTHCOM/ NORAD Commander, General Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson; Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy, and Environment, Alex Beehler; Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, General Robert McMahon; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joe Dunford; Commandant of the Marine Corps, General Robert Neller; Commander of Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM), Admiral Philip Davidson; Commander of United States European Command and NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Curtis M. Scaparrotti; Commander of United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM), General Stephen R. Lyons; Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, General David L. Goldfein; Secretary of the Air Force, the Honorable Heather A. Wilson; Commander of US Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Thomas Waldhauser; Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Bill Moran; the nominee for Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lieutenant General David Berger, Secretary of the Army Mark Esper; Army Chief of Staff, General Mark A. Milley; Senior Naval Intelligence Manager Mr. Jeff Ringhausen; Commander ​of Air Combat Command, General Mike “Mobile” Holmes; Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment, Hon Robert McMahon; Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Environment and Energy, and Hon John Henderson; and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment, Hon Alex Beehler.

I'm not going to go through all that stuff. I only add it in for the one or two of you who might want to go exploring.