Conservative groups have written a letter to U.S. lawmakers calling on them to cancel programs started under the Obama administration to lower greenhouse gas emissions in the military.
The groups—which include the Competitive Enterprise Institute, led by Myron Ebell, who also led President Trump’s EPA transition team—argue that the programs “are likely to undermine military readiness by diverting scarce resources.” They would like to see House lawmakers pull back from climate change efforts in the House of Representative’s annual defense bill, reports Reuters.
The Defense Dept., however, may disagree. “U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has long been supportive of programs that reduce troops’ petroleum dependence. In written testimony to a Senate panel after his confirmation hearing in January, Mattis said ‘climate change can be a driver of instability’ and is ‘a challenge that requires a broader, whole-of-government response,’ ” says Reuters.
The Defense Dept. is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government, and currently is still planning to implement a decade-long effort to lower emissions. As it stands now, the House defense bill includes language asking the military to report on sites that are most susceptible to rising sea levels and climate change.