United States Department of Defense Climate Resilience and Readiness Act - Summer

Team Members: Anna Beeman, Jenny Bock, Sarah Braverman, Karen Kanan Corrêa, Hayley Herzog, Rachael Grace Patten, Griffin Smith (Manager), Andrew Solfest (Deputy Manager), Celeste Zumwalt

Climate change poses direct and growing risks to U.S. military infrastructure, threatening operational readiness through flooding, extreme weather, sea level rise, and energy system vulnerabilities. H.R. 2759 addresses these risks by requiring the Department of Defense (DoD) to transition non-operational installations to net-zero energy by 2030 while strengthening climate resilience planning and renewable energy adoption. The analysis highlights how military installations have already incurred billions of dollars in damage from climate-related disasters, underscoring the urgent need for proactive adaptation and mitigation. By implementing vulnerability assessments and expanding renewable energy systems such as microgrids, the legislation aims to enhance energy security and ensure continued military effectiveness under increasingly unstable climate conditions.

The research finds that improving energy efficiency and deploying renewable technologies would not only reduce emissions but also enhance operational reliability by allowing installations to operate independently during grid disruptions. Microgrid deployment, in particular, is identified as a critical strategy for improving resilience and maintaining mission readiness. However, achieving net-zero goals will require substantial investment, institutional coordination, and long-term commitment. The report concludes that integrating climate resilience into military planning is essential for national security, as climate change threatens both infrastructure stability and operational effectiveness. If implemented successfully, the legislation would strengthen defense readiness while contributing to broader national decarbonization goals.

Learn more about the MPA-ESP Workshop in Applied Earth Systems Management.