![]() And in the case of climate change, we have a twofold opportunity: to make our military more sustainable and create an operational advantage for our warfighters. "But with every challenge we face, comes an opportunity. "It is reshaping the geostrategic, operational and tactical environments, with profound implications for U.S. I will be thinking intently about how we can better withstand such challenging conditions to further ensure your safety and safeguard our capabilities."Ĭlimate change is a problem for today, but it will also be a problem the cadets must grapple with even if they spend 40 years in uniform. ![]() Estimates show that the flooding caused more than $150 million in damages. "Later today, I will see firsthand some of the flood damage on campus. "I am relieved that staff, faculty, cadets and other members of the community remained safe. She noted that even West Point, New York, is not immune as the historic post received more than six inches of rain in just an hour last month. How we must make sure we have what we need to operate in a different climate." In viewing the devastation, I was struck by how much our readiness depends on how well we adapt our plans, our missions and our budget to ensure resiliency of our facilities, installations and capabilities. "Historic levels of rainfall damaged more than 600 facilities on the air station, which trains 59,000 students a year. "In 2021, I saw firsthand the damage caused to Pensacola Naval Air Station in the wake of Hurricane Sally," she said. It was $3 billion to rebuild Camp Lejeune, North Carolina after Hurricane Florence and $5 billion to rebuild Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida after Hurricane Michael. This includes $1 billion for rebuilding Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska after historic floods. "In recent budgets, we have been forced to absorb billions of dollars in recovery costs from extreme weather events," she said. "You understand and are concerned about how dire environmental conditions can create humanitarian crises, how these circumstances can make nations vulnerable to instability, competition and conflict, and how advancing related innovation and collaboration can ensure our national security," she said. "Around the world, we're also seeing how climate change is altering the global landscape, and with it, our mission. "Those of you from or who have visited states like Arizona, Texas and Florida, you might've experienced firsthand the record-breaking temperature streaks this summer in the air and surrounding water - ripe conditions for a climate catastrophe," Hicks said. The icecaps in Greenland and Antarctica are shrinking. The ocean and land are heating and ocean currents and the atmosphere are affected. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientists said July 2023 was the hottest July on record. ![]() These conditions will persist or get worse.
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