Skip to Main Content
HBS Home
  • About
  • Academic Programs
  • Alumni
  • Faculty & Research
  • Baker Library
  • Giving
  • Harvard Business Review
  • Initiatives
  • News
  • Recruit
  • Map / Directions
Faculty & Research
  • Faculty
  • Research
  • Featured Topics
  • Academic Units
  • …→
  • Harvard Business School→
  • Faculty & Research→
Publications
Publications
  • Article
  • Harvard Business Review

Managing Climate Change: Lessons from the U.S. Navy

By: Forest Reinhardt and Michael W. Toffel
  • Format:Print
ShareBar

Abstract

The U.S. Navy operates on the front lines of climate change. It manages tens of billions of dollars in assets on every continent and on every ocean, which take many years to design and build and then have decades of useful life. This means that it needs to understand now what sorts of missions it may be required to perform in 10, 20, or 30 years and what assets and infrastructure it will need to carry them out. Put another way, it needs to plan for the world that will exist at that time. The navy is clear eyed about the challenges climate change poses. It knows that the effects of a warmer world will expand the geographic scope of its mission and increase demand for its military and humanitarian services. Climate change will also decrease its capacity to deliver those services, as the risk of damage to its bases and ports increases. This article examines the Navy’s approach to climate change and reflects on the implications for business.

Keywords

Climate Change; Environment; Military; Disaster Relief; Refugees; Environmental Impact; Environmental Strategy; Sustainability; Energy; Energy Conservation; Energy Sources; Energy Generation; Globalization; Innovation and Invention; Leadership; Strategic Planning; Problems and Challenges; Risk and Uncertainty; Supply Chain; Operations; Logistics; Infrastructure; Strategy; Environmental Sustainability; Service Industry

Citation

Reinhardt, Forest, and Michael W. Toffel. "Managing Climate Change: Lessons from the U.S. Navy." Harvard Business Review 95, no. 4 (July–August 2017): 102–111.
  • Find it at Harvard
  • Register to Read

About The Authors

Forest L. Reinhardt

Business, Government and the International Economy
→More Publications

Michael W. Toffel

Technology and Operations Management
→More Publications

More from the Authors

    • January 2023
    • Faculty Research

    Global Sourcing at Nike

    By: Nien-hê Hsieh and Michael W. Toffel
    • December 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Applegate Farms

    By: Forest L. Reinhardt, Jose B. Alvarez and Natalie Kindred
    • December 2022
    • Faculty Research

    Taylor Farms: Adding Value to Fresh Produce

    By: Forest L. Reinhardt, Jose B. Alvarez, Jenyfeer Martinez Buitrago and Pedro Levindo
More from the Authors
  • Global Sourcing at Nike By: Nien-hê Hsieh and Michael W. Toffel
  • Applegate Farms By: Forest L. Reinhardt, Jose B. Alvarez and Natalie Kindred
  • Taylor Farms: Adding Value to Fresh Produce By: Forest L. Reinhardt, Jose B. Alvarez, Jenyfeer Martinez Buitrago and Pedro Levindo
ǁ
Campus Map
Harvard Business School
Soldiers Field
Boston, MA 02163
→Map & Directions
→More Contact Information
  • Make a Gift
  • Site Map
  • Jobs
  • Harvard University
  • Trademarks
  • Policies
  • Accessibility
  • Digital Accessibility
Copyright © President & Fellows of Harvard College