Garamendi Applauds U.S. Army’s Newly Announced Climate Strategy

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Congressman John Garamendi (D-CA)—Chair of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness—applauded the U.S. Army’s introduction of its new Climate Strategy.

Garamendi has spent his tenure as Chair working to make the U.S. military an ally in the fight against climate change. Garamendi has authored provisions in the last two National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) that require the military to reduce its fossil fuel consumption, prioritize energy resiliency, and implement other commonsense policies that will reduce pollution and increase the capabilities of our military.

The core objectives in the new Army Climate Strategy include:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030
• Building microgrids on every Army installation by 2035
• Unveiling an all-electric non-tactical fleet by 2027
• Incorporating the latest climate and environmental science into stationing, construction, and fielding decisions

The full U.S. Army Climate Strategy can be viewed here.

“The Army’s Climate Strategy is a significant development in my ongoing efforts as Readiness Chair to require the U.S. military to address the climate crisis,” Garamendi said. “Plans like this will help transform the U.S. military from the largest institutional consumer of oil in the world to an ally in the fight against the climate crisis.

“I’ve led numerous hearings in the Readiness Subcommittee to investigate the inefficient uses of carbon-producing fossil fuels that are rampant throughout the military, and have worked with military leadership for several years to identify simple, commonsense ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, promote energy resiliency, and increase military readiness,” Garamendi continued.

“The U.S. Army’s Climate strategy is a culmination of years of work and oversight into this critically important issue, and I am grateful that the Army intends to take significant measures to account for climate change. I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure every branch of the U.S. military makes similar commitments, “Garamendi concluded.