Climate Change Poses Threat on US Military Operations, May Lead to International Conflicts

Beyond the environmental effects of climate change, new documents from retired US military officials reveal that the warming globe could also affect US military operations and might even instigate international conflicts.

The three documents, signed by various senior military and national security officials, calls for the incoming US president to focus on climate change. The retired officials specifically ask for a cabinet position that will solely focus on climate change's impact on US security, Reuters reports,

“There are few easy answers, but one thing is clear: the current trajectory of climatic change presents a strategically-significant risk to U.S. national security, and inaction is not a viable option,” the Center for Climate and Security said.

The three documents were signed by retired General Anthony Zinni, former commander of the U.S. Central Command, retired Admiral Samuel Locklear, and other senior officials from the military and national security.

But how exactly is climate change linked to military operations?

In another report from the Center for Climate Security released on Wednesday, the Washington-based think tank said the increasing frequency of extreme weather poses a threat to the installation of coastal military operations.

The report urges the need for a closer look between the "complex relationship" of climate change effects, such as rising sea levels and storm surges, and their effect to "global readiness and responsiveness."

Another report earlier this year says that these coastal military installations would be a harder task as faster sea level rises result to tidal flooding, according to Huffington Post.

FOX News notes that in the 2016 US presidential campaign, climate change has not been raised as one of the major platforms of the candidates. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump even called global warming just a "concept."

Meanwhile, his opponent, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, promises to boost America's use of clean energy by 50 percent by the year 2030.