Obama orders US to factor climate into defense planning

President Barack Obama signed a presidential memorandum Wednesday establishing that the effect of climate change must be factored into the development of all national security-related doctrine, policies and plans.

The move signals Obama’s determination to exercise his executive authority during his final months in office to elevate the issue of climate in federal decisionmaking.

Under the directive, 20 federal agencies and offices that work on climate science, intelligence and national security must “collaborate to ensure the best information on climate impacts is available to strengthen our national security” through the new Federal Climate and National Security Working Group. That group must release a climate change and national security action plan. All the relevant agencies must then identify steps to implement it.

But Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who in the past has supported federal limits on greenhouse gas emissions, said in an interview: “Climate change is real. I think it’s a problem that needs to be solved . . . but I think the president is making a huge mistake to interject climate-change solutions into national security,” adding that it could hamper some of the military’s efforts.

Thirty-one countries formally joined the Paris climate change pact Wednesday, bringing the total number of countries ratifying the treaty to 60 and raising hopes that it will enter into effect by the end of the year.

The number is higher than the 55-country threshold needed for the treaty to enter into force. But because together those countries account for 48 percent of total global emissions— short of the 55 percent threshold — the agreement must wait for more nations to join.