[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 745 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
116th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 745
To establish the position of Climate Security Envoy within the
Department of State, 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 issues, to
express concern with, and improved preparedness for, growing security
issues in the Arctic, to establish the position of Special
Representative for the Arctic, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
March 12, 2019
Mr. Menendez (for himself, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Coons, Mr.
Udall, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Markey, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Booker, and
Mr. Schatz) introduced the following bill; 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 State, 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 issues, to
express concern with, and improved preparedness for, growing security
issues in the Arctic, to establish the position of Special
Representative for the Arctic, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Climate Security Act of 2019''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the impacts of climate change are--
(A) worsening natural disasters and global water,
food, health, and energy insecurities;
(B) contributing to the conditions that lead to
intrastate and interstate conflict, state instability,
and state failure; and
(C) straining United States and allied military
readiness, operations, and strategy;
(2) 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 security;
(3) during the administrations of George H. W. Bush,
William J. Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack H. Obama,
various departments and agencies of the Federal Government
initiated actions to prepare for and reduce climate-change-
related risks to national security;
(4) the Intelligence Community, the Department of Defense,
the Department of State, a broad range of national security
experts and organizations, and key allies of the United States
have concluded that--
(A) the impacts of climate change already present a
strategically significant risk to the United States and
our allies and partners; and
(B) this risk will increase over time;
(5) the collaboration of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the Department of the Navy, the
Department of the Air Force, the Department of Energy, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 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
threats;
(6) 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
security;
(7) these responses should include actions--
(A) to reduce the contributions to climate change
caused by human activity; and
(B) to adapt to and to increase resiliency to the
impacts of climate change; and
(8) the United States requires, but does not now have,
comprehensive and effective whole of government, whole of
nation, and international strategies to address existing
climate-related security risks and anticipated increases in
such risks.
SEC. 3. CLIMATE SECURITY ENVOY.
Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 (22
U.S.C. 2651a) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (g) as subsection (i); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:
``(g) Climate Security Envoy.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the President shall appoint, by
and with the advice and consent of the Senate, a Climate
Security Envoy, who shall serve within the Office of the
Secretary of State.
``(2) Duties.--The Climate Security Envoy--
``(A) shall develop a climate security policy in
accordance with paragraph (3);
``(B) 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 processes;
``(C) shall serve as a key point of contact for
other Federal agencies, including the Department of
Defense, the Department of Homeland Security, and the
Intelligence Community, on climate security issues;
``(D) shall use the voice, vote, 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 (3);
``(E) shall perform such other duties and exercise
such powers as the Secretary of State shall prescribe;
and
``(F) 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 change.
``(3) 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 Operations, the Bureau of Political-Military
Affairs, embassies, regional bureaus, and other offices with a
role in conflict avoidance, prevention and security assistance,
or humanitarian disaster response, prevention, and assistance
to assess, develop, budget for, and (upon approval) implement
plans, policies, and actions--
``(A) to enhance resilience to the effects of
climate change as a principal means of reducing the
risk of conflict and instability;
``(B) to evaluate specific added risks to certain
regions and countries that are--
``(i) vulnerable to the effects of climate
change; and
``(ii) strategically significant to the
United States;
``(C) to account for the impacts on human health,
safety, stresses, reliability, food production, fresh
water and other critical natural resources, and
economic activity;
``(D) to coordinate the integration of climate
change risk and vulnerability assessments into the
decision-making process on foreign assistance awards;
``(E) to advance principles of good governance by
encouraging foreign governments, particularly nations
that are least capable of coping with the effects of
climate change--
``(i) to conduct climate security
evaluations; and
``(ii) to facilitate the development of
climate security action plans to ensure
stability and public safety in disaster
situations in a humane and responsible fashion;
and
``(F) to evaluate the vulnerability, security,
susceptibility, and resiliency of United States assets
and interests abroad.
``(4) Report.--The Climate Security Envoy shall regularly
report to the Secretary of State on activities described in
paragraphs (2) and (3) to integrate climate concerns into
agendas and program budget requests.
``(5) Rank and status of ambassador.--The Climate Security
Envoy shall have the rank and status of Ambassador at Large.
``(6) Defined term.--In this subsection, the term `climate
security' means the effects of climate change on--
``(A) United States national security concerns and
subnational, national, and regional political
stability; and
``(B) overseas security and conflict situations
that are potentially exacerbated by dynamic
environmental factors and events, including--
``(i) the intensification and frequency of
droughts, floods, wildfires, tropical storms,
and other extreme weather events;
``(ii) changes in historical severe
weather, drought, and wildfire patterns;
``(iii) the expansion of geographical
ranges of droughts, floods, and wildfires into
regions that had not regularly experienced such
phenomena;
``(iv) global sea level rise patterns and
the expansion of geographical ranges affected
by drought; and
``(v) changes in marine environments that
effect critical geostrategic waterways, such as
the Arctic Ocean, the South China Sea, the
South Pacific Ocean, the Barents Sea, and the
Beaufort Sea.''.
SEC. 4. ENHANCING UNITED STATES UNDERSTANDING ON GLOBAL CLIMATE
DISRUPTIONS.
(a) In General.--The President shall conduct periodic comprehensive
evaluations of present and ongoing disruptions to the global climate
system that analyze--
(1) the intensity, frequency, and range of natural
disasters;
(2) the scarcity of global natural resources, including
fresh water;
(3) global food, health, and energy insecurities;
(4) conditions that contribute to--
(A) intrastate and interstate conflict;
(B) political and economic instability;
(C) migration of vulnerable and underserved
populations;
(D) state failure; and
(E) gender based violence; and
(5) United States and allied military readiness,
operations, and strategy.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of the evaluations conducted under
subsection (a) shall be--
(1) to support the practical application of scientific data
and research on climate change's dynamic effects around the
world towards improving resilience, adaptability, security, and
stability in the face of growing global environmental risks and
changes;
(2) 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 change;
(3) 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
agencies; and
(4) to better understand the effects of global climate
disruptions on all genders, thereby leading to better, more
sustainable, and targeted solutions.
(c) Scope.--The evaluations conducted under subsection (a) shall--
(1) examine developing countries' vulnerabilities and risks
associated with global, regional, and localized effects of
climate change, including utilizing gender analysis; and
(2) assess and make recommendations regarding necessary
measures to mitigate risks and reduce vulnerabilities
associated with effects, including--
(A) sea level rise;
(B) freshwater resource scarcity;
(C) wildfires; and
(D) increased intensity and frequency of extreme
weather conditions and events, including flooding,
drought, and extreme storm events, including tropical
cyclones.
(d) Report.--The President shall--
(1) compile a report containing a summary of the results of
the evaluations conducted under this section; and
(2) make such report available to the public.
SEC. 5. TRANSPARENCY.
(a) In General.--Any commission, advisory panel, or committee
designated by the President to examine or evaluate climate security (as
defined in section 1(g)(6) of the State Department Basic Authorities
Act of 1956, as added by section 3) shall comply with the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.).
(b) Whistleblower Protections.--Section 2302(b)(8)(A) of title 5,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) in clause (i), by striking ``, or'' and inserting a
semicolon;
(2) by redesignating clause (ii) as clause (iii); and
(3) by inserting after clause (i) the following:
``(ii) a deliberate manipulation,
misjudgment, removal, or obfuscation of, or
failure to take into account, data and
information critical to fulsome or accurate
national security assessment and planning;
or''.
(c) Accessibility of Processes.--The President shall ensure that
the draft and final reports, studies, 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 public.
SEC. 6. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON ARCTIC SECURITY.
It is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the rapidly changing Arctic environment--
(A) creates new national and regional security
challenges due to increased military activity in the
Arctic;
(B) heightens the risks of potential conflicts
spilling over into the Arctic region from interventions
and theaters of tension in other regions of the world;
(C) 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 ice;
(D) impacts public safety due to increased human
activity in the Arctic region where search and rescue
capacity remains very limited; and
(E) 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 ecosystems; and
(2) the United States should reduce the consequences
outlined in paragraph (1) by--
(A) carefully evaluating the wide variety and
extremely dynamic set of security and safety risks
unfolding in the Arctic;
(B) developing policies and making preparations for
mitigating and responding to threats and risks in the
Arctic;
(C) adequately funding the National Earth System
Prediction Capability to substantively improve weather,
ocean, and ice predictions on time scales necessary for
ensuring regional security and trans-Arctic shipping;
(D) investing in resources, including a
significantly expanded icebreaker fleet, to ensure that
the United States has adequate capacity to prevent and
respond to security threats in the Arctic region; and
(E) pursuing diplomatic engagements with all
nations in the Arctic region to reach an agreement
for--
(i) maintaining peace and stability in the
Arctic region; and
(ii) fostering cooperation on stewardship
and safety initiatives in the Arctic region.
SEC. 7. UNITED STATES SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE ARCTIC.
Section 1 of the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, as
amended by section 3, is further amended by inserting after subsection
(g) the following:
``(h) Special Representative for the Arctic.--
``(1) Designation.--The Secretary of State shall designate
a Special Representative for the Arctic--
``(A) to coordinate the United States Government
response to international disputes and needs in the
Arctic;
``(B) to represent the United States Government, as
appropriate, in multilateral fora in discussions
concerning access, cooperation, conservation, cultural
relations, and transit in the Arctic; and
``(C) to formulate United States policy to assist
in the resolution of international conflicts in the
Arctic.
``(2) Other responsibilities.--The individual designated
under paragraph (1) may carry out the duties set forth in
paragraph (1) in addition to other assigned
responsibilities.''.
<all>