The summer of 2023 has witnessed record-breaking heat waves, wildfires and floods worldwide; this summer will likely be another “record-breaking summer.” Almost all serious Americans understand the urgent need for bold action on climate change. As the largest industrial force on the planet, the U.S. military is a significant contributor to the climate crisis, but as it exists, it’s one of the only forces on the planet with the industrial and organizational might to adequately fight against this crisis.
America has a long history of using the term “war” as an analogy for certain public policy initiatives. The famous examples of the “wars” on drugs and poverty both consume large amounts of public funds, but for the sake of our planet and national security, the “war on climate change” must resemble its namesake as a “war.” If we are serious about averting the terrible effects of climate change yet to come, the U.S. must mobilize more of its vast resources. For example, the Department of Defense (DOD) is the largest government agency that has the capacity and the funds to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future and help avert catastrophe. As U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned in response to the latest IPCC report, “This report must sound a death knell for coal and fossil fuels before they destroy our planet.”
The DOD is the largest institutional consumer of energy in the world. The military’s reliance on fossil fuels not only contributes to global carbon emissions but also poses significant operational challenges and risks to the United States. In 2015, the Pentagon reported that climate change could exacerbate global instability, poverty and conflict, thereby threatening U.S. national security interests. Despite recent efforts to improve energy efficiency and adopt renewable energy sources, the military’s carbon footprint remains substantial, with emissions stemming from energy-intensive activities, worldwide installations and extensive supply chains. As Politico reported, “Though its energy consumption has been declining for years, the DOD is still by far the largest energy user in the federal government.”
The U.S. military’s unparalleled budget, scale and its near monopoly on American STEM innovation makes it uniquely positioned to accelerate the transition to clean energy. Historically, military investments have kickstarted new and novel technologies, from solar power and computers to the internet. As Nick Loris of the typically conservative and anti-green Heritage Foundation points out, “If the green technologies are cheaper and enhance mission capabilities, all the better.” By prioritizing energy efficiency and renewable power on its bases, the military can not only reduce its carbon footprint but also enhance its resilience and operational readiness. Procurement of electric vehicles by the DOD could help drive down costs and scale up the American electric vehicle industry. The military and the federal government’s vast real estate holdings also present opportunities for renewable energy development and grid modernization. With strong leadership and coordination, the Pentagon can leverage its absurd resources and purchasing power to catalyze market shifts and technological breakthroughs in the clean energy sector, benefiting both national security and the global fight against climate change.
Reiterating the title of this article, to truly address and minimize the real and tangible effects the climate crisis will bring, the U.S. must treat the crisis with the urgency of a military threat. By declaring a “war on climate change” and mobilizing resources on a scale not seen since World War II, the government could rapidly accelerate research, development and deployment of clean energy technologies and infrastructure. As journalist Tyler Cowen says in The New York Times, “War brings an urgency that governments otherwise fail to summon. For instance, the Manhattan Project took six years to produce a working atomic bomb, starting from virtually nothing, and at its peak, consumed 0.4 percent of American economic output. It is hard to imagine a comparably speedy and decisive achievement these days.” A wartime approach would require strong leadership, focus and coordination across government agencies. “My advice is to drive it at the highest level possible,” says Ben Steinberg of Venn Strategies, “and have the [White House Office of Management and Budget] extremely involved in purchasing things… That’s with things like electric vehicles, clustering how you purchase renewable energy so multiple bases can go into a deal together and costs can come down.” By harnessing the full power of the federal government, including the DOD, the U.S. can lead a global mobilization to avert climate catastrophe and the untold human suffering that will and is coming with it.
Implementing this “war on climate change” will not be without challenges. The military’s procurement processes are notoriously slow, and many green technologies are not yet mature enough for battlefield use. The historically entrenched interests in the fossil fuel industry and Congress can and will resist a rapid transition. However, these obstacles can be overcome with clear targets, adequate resourcing and process reforms. For this article, I spoke to representatives of Fordham Students For Environmental Action and Justice where they argued, “The United States as a whole needs to change how it approaches the climate crisis, transitioning towards an overall lower dependency on fossil fuels through subsidized renewable R&D programs, implementing less car-dependent infrastructure and exploring ways to combat overconsumption habits.” By being realistic about the grave threat we face, and by setting ambitious goals, investing in innovation and coordinating the private sector, the Federal Government can better lead this climate war effort. As U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warns, “If we combine forces now, we can avert climate catastrophe. But, as today’s report makes clear, there is no time for delay and no room for excuses.” The time for half-measures is over — we must act now.
Andrew McDonald, FCRH’26, is a history and political science double major from Sacramento, Calif.