(MENAFN- Al-Anbaa) Culturally, the U.S. military is a fairly conservative organization. But unlike many other conservative American institutions, the armed services harbor no doubt about arguably the most important issue in the world today - one that has drawn experts, advocates and leaders from all over the world to Paris for an historic conference.
Climate change: The military believes in it. And it's already preparing for a world with a climate that's hotter, more volatile and more destructive. It is evident in the armed forces' investment in solar energy to power their bases and in their experimentation with renewable, non-petroleum "bio-fuels."
And the Defense Department's commitment to addressing climate change is also apparent in the kinds of equipment it buys. Today, the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, part of defense giant General Dynamics, is building a new ship for the Navy that's ideal for dealing with the consequences of a warmer, more volatile world.
The $500-million Expeditionary Mobile Base vessel - 784 feet long from bow to stern - combines all the most important features the military believes ships will need to respond to the more frequent and more severe natural disasters. A modified version of a commercial oil tanker, the base ship boasts vast storage capacity for hauling emergency supplies, a huge flight deck for launching and landing helicopters and other aircraft, and plenty of internal space for people and medical facilities. By deliberately taking on water, the Montford Point-class "Expeditionary Mobile Base" can bring its lower deck level with the sea, allowing it to easily launch hovercraft and small boats. Observers have described the new ships as "ports at sea."
The Navy originally intended the Montford Point class to support amphibious beach assaults, but the sailing branch now realizes the ships are also ideal for swiftly responding to natural disasters - including those worsened by climate change - by delivering relief supplies by air and by sea, as well as helping to care for victims.
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