Natural disasters are a rising burden for the National Guard – Ars Technica

Report on National Guard Disaster Response and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Climate Action and Institutional Preparedness: An Analysis of SDG 13

Recent data from the Department of Defense indicates a significant escalation in the deployment of National Guard personnel for natural disaster response, a trend with direct implications for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 13 (Climate Action). The increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related events are placing a growing burden on military resources, challenging the nation’s capacity for climate adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

• Data reveals that in 2024, paid duty days for National Guard disaster response reached 445,306, nearly triple the figure from nine years prior.
• This trend underscores the urgent need for integrated climate action policies within key state institutions, as called for by SDG 13.
• However, current policy direction under Secretary Hegseth aims to remove climate change from the military’s agenda, a stance that conflicts with the empirical data on disaster response and undermines national preparedness efforts aligned with SDG 13.
• Senator Warren highlighted this disconnect, stating, “The effects of climate change are destroying the military’s infrastructure… Failing to act will only make these costs skyrocket,” emphasizing the financial and operational risks of ignoring climate threats.

Resilient Communities and Infrastructure: The Role of the National Guard in Advancing SDG 11

The National Guard’s activities during climate-related emergencies are critical to fulfilling the objectives of Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), particularly Target 11.5, which aims to reduce the impact of disasters on populations and infrastructure. The Guard’s response efforts directly contribute to community resilience and recovery.

1. 2017 Hurricane Season: A peak deployment of 1.25 million duty days occurred in 2017 in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, which caused widespread devastation in Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, demonstrating the Guard’s essential role in large-scale community stabilization.
2. 2023 Maui Wildfires: The response to the wind-driven wildfires in Maui, which resulted in over 100 fatalities, showcased the diverse capabilities required to protect communities. The Hawaii National Guard performed a range of critical tasks:

• Aerial water drops using CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
• Assisting in the evacuation and escort of residents.
• Conducting search and recovery operations.
• Distributing essential resources such as potable water.

Economic and Institutional Stability: Challenges to SDG 8 and SDG 16

The escalating demand for disaster response has significant financial and institutional consequences, impacting Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). The rising costs represent a diversion of resources that affects economic stability, while the operational shift challenges the primary functions and long-term effectiveness of a key national institution.

• Economic Impact (SDG 8): The substantial increase in paid duty days for disaster relief reflects a growing, unplanned expenditure. This financial strain diverts funds from other national priorities and represents a significant economic cost of climate inaction.
• Institutional Strain (SDG 16): The data confirms that climate change impacts are actively shaping the military’s duties, regardless of official policy. The directive from Secretary Hegseth to cease focus on climate change creates a conflict between policy and operational reality, potentially weakening the institution’s ability to plan for and respond to foreseeable threats, a core tenet of strong and effective institutions under SDG 16.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article’s central theme is the impact of climate change, specifically the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters that necessitate a military response. It discusses the “effects of climate change” and the need to plan for a “warming future.”
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article focuses on the response to natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires that affect communities. It mentions the destruction of infrastructure, the death of over 100 people in Maui, and the National Guard’s role in aiding residents, which are all central to making communities resilient and safe.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The article examines the role and effectiveness of a key state institution, the military (specifically the National Guard), in responding to domestic crises. The debate over whether to include climate change in the military’s agenda speaks directly to the capacity and accountability of this institution.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: A specific action mentioned in the article is the National Guard’s role in distributing “potable water” to residents affected by the Maui wildfires, directly connecting to the goal of ensuring access to clean water, especially during emergencies.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article directly addresses this by highlighting the increasing burden on the National Guard to respond to climate-related disasters like hurricanes and wildfires, demonstrating a need to strengthen institutional adaptive capacity.
   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning. The statement by Secretary Hegseth to “erase climate change from the military’s agenda” is in direct opposition to this target, highlighting a conflict over institutional capacity and awareness regarding climate change.

2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce the number of deaths and the number of people affected and substantially decrease the direct economic losses relative to global gross domestic product caused by disasters. The article references the Maui wildfires where “more than 100 people dead” and the National Guard’s response to help “fleeing residents” and aid in “search and recovery.” It also mentions the “costly” nature of these responses, pointing to the economic losses from disasters.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels. The article discusses the function of the National Guard as an institution responding to disasters. The data on their increased deployment shows their growing role, while the political debate about their agenda raises questions about their future effectiveness in planning for climate-related threats.

4. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.1: By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. The article provides a concrete example of working towards this target in a crisis situation, noting that the Hawaii National Guard’s tasks included the distribution of “potable water” after the wildfires.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 11 and SDG 13 (Targets 11.5 & 13.1)

   • Number of paid duty days for disaster response: The article explicitly provides this data as an indicator of the increasing demand for disaster response. It states that in 2024, “National Guard paid duty days on disaster response—445,306—had nearly tripled compared to nine years earlier,” with a peak of “1.25 million duty days in 2017.” This directly measures the human resource cost of responding to climate-related hazards.
   • Financial cost of disaster response: The article implies this indicator by quoting Senator Warren, who states the data shows “just how costly this threat already is for the National Guard” and warns that “failing to act will only make these costs skyrocket.”
   • Number of deaths caused by disasters: The article provides a specific figure for the Maui wildfires, which left “more than 100 people dead,” serving as a direct indicator for Target 11.5.

2. Indicators for SDG 13 and SDG 16 (Targets 13.3 & 16.6)

   • Inclusion of climate change in institutional policy and planning: The article implies this as a key indicator. Secretary Hegseth’s vow to “erase climate change from the military’s agenda” and his statement “No more climate change worship” can be seen as a negative measure of this indicator, showing a deliberate move away from institutional capacity building on climate change.

3. Indicators for SDG 6 (Target 6.1)

   • Provision of essential services during emergencies: The article mentions that the National Guard “distributed potable water.” This action serves as a qualitative indicator of ensuring access to safe drinking water in a post-disaster context.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: arstechnica.com