,,ii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 #gde ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,march #ab1 #bjai,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,cardin1 ,mrs4 ,shaheen1 ,mr4 ,coons1 ,mr4 ,udall1 ,mr4 ,murphy1 ,mr4 ,kaine1 ,mr4 ,markey1 ,mr4 ,merkley1 ,mr4 ,booker1 and ,mr4 ,schatz7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,a ,,bill ,to establish the position of ,climate ,security ,envoy within the ,department of ,state1 who shall develop policies to address security concerns with climate change and serve as a liaison with other ,federal agencies and international partners on climate security issues1 to express concern with1 and improved preparedness for1 growing security issues in the ,arctic1 to establish the position of ,special ,representative for the ,arctic1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,climate ,security ,act of #bjai4 #b4 ,findings ,congress finds that-- 7#a7 the impacts of climate change are-- 7,a7 worsening natural disasters and global water1 food1 health1 and energy insecurities2 7,b7 contributing to the conditions that lead to intrastate and interstate conflict1 state instability1 and state failure2 and 7,c7 straining ,united ,states and allied military readiness1 operations1 and strategy2 7#b7 the impacts of climate change on sea level and on the ,arctic region are among the most significant current and projected impacts of climate change on national and international security2 7#c7 during the administrations of ,george ,h4 ,w4 ,bush1 ,william ,j4 ,clinton1 ,george ,w4 ,bush1 and ,barack ,h4 ,obama1 various departments and agencies of the ,federal ,government initiated actions to prepare for and reduce climate-change-related risks to national security2 7#d7 the ,intelligence ,community1 the ,department of ,defense1 the ,department of ,state1 a broad range of national security experts and organizations1 and key allies of the ,united ,states have concluded that-- 7,a7 the impacts of climate change already present a strategically significant risk to the ,united ,states and our allies and partners2 and 7,b7 this risk will increase over time2 7#e7 the collaboration of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration1 the ,department of the ,navy1 the ,department of the ,air ,force1 the ,department of ,energy1 the ,national ,aeronautics and ,space ,administration1 and the ,national ,science ,foundation on the ,national ,earth ,system ,prediction ,capability provides accurate global analysis and prediction capabilities for the physical environment that enhances response and prevention strategies to national security threats2 7#f7 comprehensive action must be taken to ensure that the response of the ,united ,states and of our key international partners is commensurate with the scale of the existing and projected climate-related risks to national and international security2 7#g7 these responses should include actions-- 7,a7 to reduce the contributions to climate change caused by human activity2 and 7,b7 to adapt to and to increase resiliency to the impacts of climate change2 and 7#h7 the ,united ,states requires1 but does not now have1 comprehensive and effective whole of government1 whole of nation1 and international strategies to address existing climate-related security risks and anticipated increases in such risks4 #c4 ,climate ,security ,envoy ,section #a of the ,state ,department ,basic ,authorities ,act of #aief 7#bb ,u4,s4,c4 #bfea;a7 is amended-- 7#a7 by redesignating subsection 7g7 as subsection 7i72 and 7#b7 by inserting after subsection 7f7 the following3 7g7 ,climate ,security ,envoy 7#a7 ,in general ,not later than #abj days after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,president shall appoint1 by and with the advice and consent of the ,senate1 a ,climate ,security ,envoy1 who shall serve within the ,office of the ,secretary of ,state4 7#b7 ,duties ,the ,climate ,security ,envoy-- 7,a7 shall develop a climate security policy in accordance with paragraph 7#c72 7,b7 shall coordinate the integration of the climate security policy into applied strategies across programmatic and regional bureaus and into the ,department of ,state's decision-making processes2 7,c7 shall serve as a key point of contact for other ,federal agencies1 including the ,department of ,defense1 the ,department of ,homeland ,security1 and the ,intelligence ,community1 on climate security issues2 7,d7 shall use the voice1 vote1 and influence of the ,united ,states to encourage other countries and international multilateral organizations to support the principles of the climate security policy implemented under paragraph 7#c72 7,e7 shall perform such other duties and exercise such powers as the ,secretary of ,state shall prescribe2 and 7,f7 may not perform the functions of the ,special ,envoy for ,climate ,change to the ,united ,nations or serve as the ,united ,states negotiator in any international fora to address climate change4 7#c7 ,climate security policy ,the ,climate ,security ,envoy shall develop and implement a climate security policy that includes requirements for the ,bureau of ,conflict and ,stabilization ,operations1 the ,bureau of ,political-,military ,affairs1 embassies1 regional bureaus1 and other offices with a role in conflict avoidance1 prevention and security assistance1 or humanitarian disaster response1 prevention1 and assistance to assess1 develop1 budget for1 and 7upon approval7 implement plans1 policies1 and actions-- 7,a7 to enhance resilience to the effects of climate change as a principal means of reducing the risk of conflict and instability2 7,b7 to evaluate specific added risks to certain regions and countries that are-- 7i7 vulnerable to the effects of climate change2 and 7ii7 strategically significant to the ,united ,states2 7,c7 to account for the impacts on human health1 safety1 stresses1 reliability1 food production1 fresh water and other critical natural resources1 and economic activity2 7,d7 to coordinate the integration of climate change risk and vulnerability assessments into the decision-making process on foreign assistance awards2 7,e7 to advance principles of good governance by encouraging foreign governments1 particularly nations that are least capable of coping with the effects of climate change-- 7i7 to conduct climate security evaluations2 and 7ii7 to facilitate the development of climate security action plans to ensure stability and public safety in disaster situations in a humane and responsible fashion2 and 7,f7 to evaluate the vulnerability1 security1 susceptibility1 and resiliency of ,united ,states assets and interests abroad4 7#d7 ,report ,the ,climate ,security ,envoy shall regularly report to the ,secretary of ,state on activities described in paragraphs 7#b7 and 7#c7 to integrate climate concerns into agendas and program budget requests4 7#e7 ,rank and status of ambassador ,the ,climate ,security ,envoy shall have the rank and status of ,ambassador at ,large4 7#f7 ,defined term ,in this subsection1 the term climate security means the effects of climate change on-- 7,a7 ,united ,states national security concerns and subnational1 national1 and regional political stability2 and 7,b7 overseas security and conflict situations that are potentially exacerbated by dynamic environmental factors and events1 including-- 7i7 the intensification and frequency of droughts1 floods1 wildfires1 tropical storms1 and other extreme weather events2 7ii7 changes in historical severe weather1 drought1 and wildfire patterns2 7iii7 the expansion of geographical ranges of droughts1 floods1 and wildfires into regions that had not regularly experienced such phenomena2 7iv7 global sea level rise patterns and the expansion of geographical ranges affected by drought2 and 7v7 changes in marine environments that effect critical geostrategic waterways1 such as the ,arctic ,ocean1 the ,south ,china ,sea1 the ,south ,pacific ,ocean1 the ,barents ,sea1 and the ,beaufort ,sea4 4 #d4 ,enhancing ,united ,states understanding on global climate disruptions 7a7 ,in general ,the ,president shall conduct periodic comprehensive evaluations of present and ongoing disruptions to the global climate system that analyze-- 7#a7 the intensity1 frequency1 and range of natural disasters2 7#b7 the scarcity of global natural resources1 including fresh water2 7#c7 global food1 health1 and energy insecurities2 7#d7 conditions that contribute to-- 7,a7 intrastate and interstate conflict2 7,b7 political and economic instability2 7,c7 migration of vulnerable and underserved populations2 7,d7 state failure2 and 7,e7 gender based violence2 and 7#e7 ,united ,states and allied military readiness1 operations1 and strategy4 7b7 ,purposes ,the purposes of the evaluations conducted under subsection 7a7 shall be-- 7#a7 to support the practical application of scientific data and research on climate change's dynamic effects around the world towards improving resilience1 adaptability1 security1 and stability in the face of growing global environmental risks and changes2 7#b7 to ensure that the strategic planning and mission execution of ,united ,states international development and diplomatic missions adequately account for heightened and dynamic risks and challenges associated with the effects of climate change2 7#c7 to improve coordination between ,united ,states science agencies conducting research and forecasts on the causes and effects of climate change and ,united ,states national security agencies2 and 7#d7 to better understand the effects of global climate disruptions on all genders1 thereby leading to better1 more sustainable1 and targeted solutions4 7c7 ,scope ,the evaluations conducted under subsection 7a7 shall-- 7#a7 examine developing countries' vulnerabilities and risks associated with global1 regional1 and localized effects of climate change1 including utilizing gender analysis2 and 7#b7 assess and make recommendations regarding necessary measures to mitigate risks and reduce vulnerabilities associated with effects1 including-- 7,a7 sea level rise2 7,b7 freshwater resource scarcity2 7,c7 wildfires2 and 7,d7 increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather conditions and events1 including flooding1 drought1 and extreme storm events1 including tropical cyclones4 7d7 ,report ,the ,president shall-- 7#a7 compile a report containing a summary of the results of the evaluations conducted under this section2 and 7#b7 make such report available to the public4 #e4 ,transparency 7a7 ,in general ,any commission1 advisory panel1 or committee designated by the ,president to examine or evaluate climate security 7as defined in section #a7;g77#f7 of the ,state ,department ,basic ,authorities ,act of #aief1 as added by section #c7 shall comply with the ,federal ,advisory ,committee ,act 7#e ,u4,s4,c4 ,app474 7b7 ,whistleblower protections ,section #bcjb7;b77#h77;,a7 of title #e1 ,united ,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in clause 7i71 by striking 1 or and inserting a semicolon2 7#b7 by redesignating clause 7ii7 as clause 7iii72 and 7#c7 by inserting after clause 7i7 the following3 7ii7 a deliberate manipulation1 misjudgment1 removal1 or obfuscation of1 or failure to take into account1 data and information critical to fulsome or accurate national security assessment and planning2 or 4 7c7 ,accessibility of processes ,the ,president shall ensure that the draft and final reports1 studies1 and policy recommendations relating to climate security research that are compiled by entities working under the direction of the ,federal ,government are made available to the public4 #f4 ,sense of ,congress on ,arctic security ,it is the sense of ,congress that-- 7#a7 the rapidly changing ,arctic environment-- 7,a7 creates new national and regional security challenges due to increased military activity in the ,arctic2 7,b7 heightens the risks of potential conflicts spilling over into the ,arctic region from interventions and theaters of tension in other regions of the world2 7,c7 threatens maritime safety due to inadequate regional resource capacity to patrol the increases in vessel traffic this remote region is experiencing from the increased expanses of open ,arctic water from diminished annual levels of sea ice2 7,d7 impacts public safety due to increased human activity in the ,arctic region where search and rescue capacity remains very limited2 and 7,e7 threatens the health of the ,arctic's fragile and historically pristine environment and the unique and highly sensitive species found in the ,arctic's marine and terrestrial ecosystems2 and 7#b7 the ,united ,states should reduce the consequences outlined in paragraph 7#a7 by-- 7,a7 carefully evaluating the wide variety and extremely dynamic set of security and safety risks unfolding in the ,arctic2 7,b7 developing policies and making preparations for mitigating and responding to threats and risks in the ,arctic2 7,c7 adequately funding the ,national ,earth ,system ,prediction ,capability to substantively improve weather1 ocean1 and ice predictions on time scales necessary for ensuring regional security and trans-,arctic shipping2 7,d7 investing in resources1 including a significantly expanded icebreaker fleet1 to ensure that the ,united ,states has adequate capacity to prevent and respond to security threats in the ,arctic region2 and 7,e7 pursuing diplomatic engagements with all nations in the ,arctic region to reach an agreement for-- 7i7 maintaining peace and stability in the ,arctic region2 and 7ii7 fostering cooperation on stewardship and safety initiatives in the ,arctic region4 #g4 ,united ,states ,special ,representative for the ,arctic ,section #a of the ,state ,department ,basic ,authorities ,act of #aief1 as amended by section #c1 is further amended by inserting after subsection 7g7 the following3 7h7 ,special representative for the ,arctic 7#a7 ,designation ,the ,secretary of ,state shall designate a ,special ,representative for the ,arctic-- 7,a7 to coordinate the ,united ,states ,government response to international disputes and needs in the ,arctic2 7,b7 to represent the ,united ,states ,government1 as appropriate1 in multilateral fora in discussions concerning access1 cooperation1 conservation1 cultural relations1 and transit in the ,arctic2 and 7,c7 to formulate ,united ,states policy to assist in the resolution of international conflicts in the ,arctic4 7#b7 ,other responsibilities ,the individual designated under paragraph 7#a7 may carry out the duties set forth in paragraph 7#a7 in addition to other assigned responsibilities4 4