An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | April 20, 2023

DOD Produces Climate Assessment Tool, Strengthens Climate Cooperation With Six Allies

DoD Immediate Release

WASHINGTON -- Two years ago at the Climate Leaders Summit led by President Joseph R Biden Jr., Honorable Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III committed to produce tailored versions of the DOD Climate Assessment Tool (DCAT) for six allies: Australia, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea and the United Kingdom.

Over the past several months, department personnel have been engaged in tool development and climate change data identification with these allies, and today, the U.S. has delivered on that climate commitment. Sharing a customized version of DCAT with allies enhances their climate resilience, promotes security cooperation and interoperability and strengthens U.S. national security.

Today, the Pentagon hosted a Climate Assessment Tool Ceremonial event with embassy staff from the allies. The Offices of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Environment and Energy Resilience and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Arctic and Global Resilience jointly hosted this ceremonial event to mark the successful development of these tools.

The Department understands the impacts of climate change are real, are occurring today and must be accounted for in defense planning. Climate change will continue to amplify operational demands on the force and allies, degrade installations and infrastructure, increase health risks to service members and require modifications to existing and planned military capabilities. Extreme weather events are already costing the department billions of dollars and are degrading mission capabilities and readiness. The nations and alliances that are more resilient to the impacts of climate will have a competitive advantage. The department is committed to working closely with allies and partners to enhance our collective resilience and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

The department must take bold steps to accelerate adaptation to reduce the adverse impacts of climate change. Adapting to climate change will result in a more agile military, strengthened alliances, resilient infrastructure, and increased opportunity for technical innovation and economic growth. The department’s climate resilience measures start with analysis from DCAT. DCAT is the department’s climate assessment tool leveraging best available and actionable data and methods. Assessing long-term exposure through tools like DCAT is essential for understanding climate risks and vulnerabilities.

In addition to DOD sharing a version of DCAT with several allies, the department also continues to fund ongoing research to improve DCAT for use in long-term military investments and other DOD planning scenarios out to 2050 and 2085. At the installation level, improved capabilities in DCAT will allow easier integration with military department-specific geographic information system layers (e.g., flooding) to analyze an installation’s exposure or susceptibility to climate and extreme weather events. This will help inform land use recommendations and support resilient design, engineering and construction.

For military departments, DCAT identifies installations or facilities requiring focused attention or more detailed studies to determine mission impacts and exposure risk reduction strategies. Similarly, DOD leadership can use DCAT to inform investment, policy decisions and requests from Congress by comparing climate exposure across the department.

Climate change knows no borders. No nation can find lasting security without addressing the accelerating climate hazards. The department values climate security collaboration with our allies, and beyond sharing climate assessment tools, DOD aims to further expand defense partnerships in this critical area of mutual concern and national security.

For additional information on DCAT and the Department’s climate efforts, visit the DOD Tackling the Climate Spotlight.

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
Twitter
342,728
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Pentagon Official Says Next Generation of Leaders Key to Solving Security Challenges
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin H. Kahl speaks remotely during the 2023 NATO Youth Summit from the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., June 5, 2023. (DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Alexander Kubitza)
June 7, 2023 - WASHINGTON -- Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin H. Kahl underscored today the critical role future leaders will have in addressing increasingly complex security challenges.Speaking to an audience of students and...

Eielson Continues to Build on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Program
Tony Cruz, Pacific Air Forces Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Officer, explains the Leading Inclusive Virtual Experience to some of Eielson’s frontline supervisors during a base visit at Eielson Air Force Base, May 30, 2023. L.I.V.E. is a DEIA education tool developed by Air University to help develop skills such as addressing exclusion and understanding different perspectives through suspended reality in a simulated scenario. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Ricardo Sandoval)
June 7, 2023 - EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Pacific Air Forces Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Officer, Tony Cruz, visited Eielson Air Force Base and met with base leadership and Airmen May 30-31, 2023.Earlier this...

Collaboration and Standardization Are Key to DOD's Battery Strategy, Meeting U.S. Energy Objectives
The Tactical Resupply Unmanned Aircraft System (TRUAS) flies during a demonstration at DZ Cockatoo on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, March 29, 2023. Combat Development and Integration demonstrated the TRUAS, programming the Unmanned Logistics Systems-Air (ULS-A) to carry a payload over a short distance, drop it at a specified location in the landing zone and return to its staring point. The TRUAS has a 9-mile range and maximum payload of 150 pounds, which is sufficient to fly in ammunition, food, medical supplies, and batteries, among other supplies. This small system only requires two Marines to operate and will be a game-changing capability for our distributed forces. Fielding this capability is a critical step in setting conditions for the development of the ULS-A Medium system, which is the required capability for large-scale tactical distribution in a contested space. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Lance Cpl. Kayla LeClaire)
June 7, 2023 - WASHINGTON -- Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen H. Hicks has made clear a healthy battery supply chain is essential for military capabilities and national security — and when it comes to batteries, "America needs to lead the...

Remarks by U.S. Ambassador Peter Haas Terrorism Financing Investigation and Intelligence Course
Terrorism Financing Investigation and Intelligence Course.
June 7, 2023 - U.S. Embassy & Bangladesh - (As prepared for delivery) Good morning. It is my pleasure to open this week’s Terrorism Financing Investigation and Intelligence Course and to speak with you all, the dedicated professionals...

Malaysian and U.S. Forces Strengthen Security Ties at Bersama Warrior Exercise
Malaysian and United States Armed Forces service members pose for a group photo after the Exercise Bersama Warrior 23 opening ceremony at the Joint Warfighting Center on Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters Base, Kuantan, Padang, Malaysia, June 6, 2023. Bersama Warrior is an annual bilateral joint exercise sponsored by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and hosted by the Malaysian Armed Forces. This year marks the ninth iteration of the exercise, enhancing the U.S. and Malaysian defense readiness and improving interoperability. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Gunnery Sgt. Alexandria Blanche)
June 6, 2023 - KUANTAN, Malaysia -- The ninth annual Bersama Warrior exercise commenced here June 6, 2023, with an opening ceremony officiated by Malaysian Armed Forces Joint Force Headquarters Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for the J3,...