The Department of Defense (DoD) spent $22,000 to write a 14-page report on climate change, which the Pentagon says is an "urgent and growing threat to our national security."
The Pentagon submitted the "Report on National Security Implications of Climate-Related Risks and a Changing Climate" on Tuesday, in response to a request by the Senate Appropriations Committee.
In a statement accompanying the report, the DoD painted a dire situation, blaming global warming for exacerbating nearly every problem in the world.
"The report reinforces the fact that global climate change will have wide-ranging implications for U.S. national security interests over the foreseeable future because it will aggravate existing problems such as poverty, social tensions, environmental degradation, ineffectual leadership, and weak political institutions that threaten domestic stability in a number of countries," the DoD said.
In response, DoD said it is directing combatant commands to integrate "climate-related impacts into their planning cycles."
"The ability of the United States and other countries to cope with the risks and implications of climate change requires monitoring, analysis, and integration of those risks into existing overall risk management measures, as appropriate for each combatant command," DoD said.
In all, the report runs 14 pages, and cost $22,000 in DoD labor.
The Pentagon’s four "climate-related security risks," identified in the report include: "Persistently recurring conditions such as flooding, drought, and higher temperatures," "More frequent and/or more severe extreme weather events, "Sea level rise and temperature changes," and "Decreases in Arctic ice cover, type, and thickness."
The report also details that the DoD has Geographic Combatant Commands (GCCs), who work with other nations to address climate change.
"GCCs generally view climate change as a security risk because it impacts human security and, more indirectly, the ability of governments to meet the basic needs of their populations," the report said.
The Pentagon revealed in the report actions it is taking to fight climate change, including a "global screening level vulnerability assessment" of every DoD installation in the world. The Navy will also "address sea level rise."
DoD is also evaluating the "need for specific Arctic capabilities" in relation to climate change.
The report did note that "Climate change is not a stand-alone topic."
"Real-world, actual climate conditions are taken into consideration for planning missions," the Pentagon said.