CLIMATE RESILIENCE: DOD Needs to Assess Risk and Provide Guidance on Use of Climate Projections in Installation Master Plans and Facilities Designs

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)

Created: 8/28/2019 - Updated: 8/28/2019

Abstract

DOD’s global property holdings are worth nearly $1.2 trillion. Since 2010, DOD has identified climate change as a threat to its operations and installations.

The GAO found that DOD's preliminary assessment of extreme weather and climate change effects at installations relied on past experience rather than an analysis of future vulnerabilities based on climate projections. Also, DOD’s designs for new construction at facilities generally did not consider climate projections, because DOD lacks guidance on how to do so.

The GAO made 8 recommendations, including that DOD issue guidance on incorporating climate projections into facilities project designs.

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