Why is the U.S. Navy thinking about climate change?

Put simply, it has to. As one of the U.S.’s primary military forces, the Navy must consider all threats to citizens’ safety – and the latest science and research shows that climate change acts as a “threat multiplier.” For example, the increasing frequency of extreme weather events destabilizes societies, particularly societies with limited resources, which may lead to wars, internal conflicts and greater needs for humanitarian assistance.

In this latest podcast, Harvard Business School professors, Forest Reinhart and Michael Toffel, discuss the many ways the U.S. Navy integrates climate change adaptation and mitigation into its activities. From raising its bases from rising seas to reducing its own carbon footprint, the Navy’s pragmatic, science-based approach to climate change serves as a crucial model for others to follow.