2014/07/16 Council Agenda Packet

require us to think differently about our world and our communities. It will also require us to seize opportunities to develop new technologies around energy, transportation and communities. A. Think globally Every four years, the United States Department of Defense publishes the "Quadrennial Defense Review" (QDR). The QDR is a foundational study, intended to inform the adaptation, reshaping and rebalancing of the nation's military forces to meet the strategic challenges and opportunities of the future. The Defense Department and national intelligence agencies have been engaged in monitoring climate change, climate science and associated issues for some time. In 2010, the review identified climate change as a significant concern for national security and national defense. It stated that climate change was already having impacts in every region of the world. Among the concerns noted in the 2010 QDR were: increasing storm events, raising sea levels, rising temperatures, changes in food production and food supply, and profound cultural and demographic changes creating tensions and complex interplay that may spark or exacerbate future conflicts.(1) In the 2014 QDR, climate change is referenced as follows: "Climate change poses another significant challenge for the United States and the world at large. As greenhouse gas emissions increase, sea levels are rising, average global temperatures are increasing, and severe weather patterns are accelerating. These changes, coupled with other global dynamics, including growing, urbanizing, more affluent populations, and substantial economic growth in India, China, Brazil, and other nations, will devastate homes, land, and infrastructure. Climate change may exacerbate water scarcity and lead to sharp increases in food costs. The pressures caused by climate change will influence resource competition while placing additional burdens on economies, societies, and governance institutions around the world. These effects are threat multipliers that will aggravate stressors abroad such as poverty, environmental degradation, political instability, and social tensions - conditions that can enable terrorist activity and other forms of violence. "(2) The Department of Defense (DOD) has been a leader in addressing energy conservation and climate change. DOD understands that issues of energy and climate often translate to regional or global instability, national security challenges, and military actions to protect national interests. The Navy has been a leader among the service branches. Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus has led significant efforts in energy conservation, relying on alternative "green" energy sources. In a January 2014 interview with the Commonwealth Club of California, Secretary Mabus said: "The Navy is very aware of climate change and sea level rise - many people live within a short distance of the shore and sea level rise can trigger instability around the world".(3) It is no accident the Navy has taken the lead among service branches on climate issues. More than the other service branches, they interact in unique ways with the oceans, the planet's atmosphere, and littoral reaches most vulnerable to climate 2