# Department of Defense Climate Resiliency and Readiness Act

This bill directs the Department of Defense to develop and implement strategies to address how climate change affects military operations and national security. Essentially, it requires the military to plan for and adapt to climate-related challenges that could impact military bases, equipment, personnel, and overall defense capabilities.

The practical impact is that military installations around the country will need to prepare for climate-related threats like rising sea levels, extreme weather, flooding, and drought. For example, a naval base in a coastal area would need to assess risks from sea level rise and develop plans to protect critical infrastructure. An air force base in the Southwest might need to prepare for increased heat and water scarcity. The bill also likely requires the Pentagon to factor climate risks into decisions about where to build new facilities, how to maintain existing ones, and how to train and deploy troops effectively in a changing climate.

This affects military personnel, defense contractors, and communities near military bases, as resources will be directed toward climate adaptation and resilience projects. It also affects taxpayers, since implementing these strategies will require funding. The bill essentially recognizes that climate change poses real threats to military readiness and national security, and the armed forces need to plan accordingly rather than being caught unprepared by climate-related disruptions to bases, supply chains, or operations.

Department of Defense Climate Resiliency and Readiness Act

Warren, Elizabeth

Department of Defense Climate Resiliency and Readiness Act This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to address climate resiliency and energy and resource efficiency. Each DOD contract for the procurement of property or services entered into on or after October 1, 2021, must include specified information related to energy consumption and energy sources. When deciding whether to enter into a contract, DOD must consider whether the contractor verifiably produces as much renewable energy as the total energy it consumes and whether there is any order against the contractor for a violation of an environmental law or regulation. Among other elements, the bill requires <ul> <li>DOD to achieve aggregate net zero energy in use of energy by non-operational sources by December 31, 2031;</li> <li>DOD to give preference to contractors and small businesses that use green manufacturing technology;</li> <li>DOD to administer the Energy and Climate Resiliency Fund established by the bill;</li> <li>DOD and the military departments to consider climate change risks when making strategic decisions related to any military installation;</li> <li>DOD and other relevant federal agencies to incorporate climate change into the National Defense Strategy, the National Military Strategy, and DOD's operational plans; and</li> <li>DOD to conduct a program of research, development, and demonstration of hybrid microgrid systems and electric grid energy storage.</li> </ul> The Government Accountability Office must report on the individual and aggregate uses of DOD's authority to give preference to contractors that use green manufacturing technology and small businesses that verifiably use green manufacturing technology or operate with net zero energy.