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Most of the military bases in the United States are threatened by the effects of climate change, according to a report by the Department of Defense released Friday.
"Two-thirds of the 79 infrastructure surveyed in the report are vulnerable to recurring floods today and in the future, and more than half are vulnerable to droughts today and in the future," said the Congressional document. the armed forces in the face of climate change.
Other military installations run the risk of forest fires or the melting of the permafrost, the 22-page document estimates that the threat must be reached over a period of 20 years.
The Pentagon does not provide special funding to respond to these threats that are already, according to the document, considered in the current Pentagon budget.
But the criticisms have not been imminent, especially because the report does not reflect what was asked and the extent of the threat.
"There are many things that are missing," said John Conger, director of the Center for Climate and Security, which brings together environmental experts and former military officers.
Congress had instructed the Pentagon to designate the ten military infrastructures most threatened by climate change.
The document provides a list of 79 bases and structures in alphabetical order and, "do not know how, ignore the Marine Corps," added Conger in the statement.
"On the other hand, it omits without explaining the Tyndall air base and the Camp Lejeune air base, despite being faced with billions of dollars worth of recovery, after the recent extreme weather events related to climate change ", he concluded. .
The Marines base in Camp Lejeune, in the state of North Carolina, was devastated by hurricane Florence in September 2018 and the cost of repairs is estimated at $ 3.6 billion.
In Florida, the Tyndall air base, home to fierce F-22 Raptors stealth fighters, was devastated by Hurricane Michael in October of that year and has repairs estimated at five billion dollars.
Climate change denier, the US president of America, Donald Trump, has withdrawn the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement and has relaxed or overturned various environmental regulations.
"Under the current direction, the Department of Defense views climate change as a secondary issue," said Democratic MP Jack Reed, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Failing to identify the military infrastructure that should have priority for protection, this report "has the same value as a telephone directory," Reed added.
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