People: Trump's Defense pick seen as understanding climate risks

President-elect Trump's nominee for Defense Secretary, retired Marine Gen. James Mattis, has a keen understanding of the risks that climate change poses for national security, according to news reports, contrasting with Trump's frequent campaign claim that global warming is a “hoax.” A Nov. 30 article in Climate Home , published before Mattis' nomination was announced Dec. 1, quotes retired Marine Gen. Stephen Cheney saying that Mattis would likely keep the Defense Department's (DOD) current focus on adapting to climate...