Greta Jimenez
The US military is one of the largest polluters in history, with a carbon footprint that surpasses that of many countries. Its vast infrastructure and global operations contribute significantly to climate change, emitting more carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases than most medium-sized nations. The US military's fuel usage alone would rank it as the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases globally, and its environmental impact extends beyond carbon emissions, with a history of contaminating water sources and exposing civilians and soldiers to toxic smoke. While the Pentagon has acknowledged the impact of climate change, it has failed to address its own substantial contributions, and military emissions are often excluded from climate change studies and agreements.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| US Military's Rank in Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions | 47th largest emitter of GHG in the world |
| US Military's Carbon Emissions Ranking | Between Peru and Portugal |
| US Military's Carbon Emissions in 2023 | 48 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) |
| US Military's Carbon Emissions from 1979 to 2023 | 4,000 MtCO2e |
| US Military's Carbon Emissions since the Invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 | 1,212 million metric tons of greenhouse gases |
| US Military's Carbon Emissions in 2017 | More than 25,000 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide |
| US Military's Carbon Emissions in 2004 | 85 million tons |
| US Military's Carbon Emissions from Fuel Usage Alone | 47th largest emitter in the world |
| US Military's Share of Federal Energy Consumption Since 2001 | 77% to 80% |
| US Military's Percentage of Global Emissions | Up to 6% |
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What You'll Learn
The US military is one of the largest polluters in history
The US military's negligence, nuclear testing, and disregard for human life have come at a significant environmental cost. For example, in Minden, Louisiana, the military burned explosives and munition waste multiple times a day without any environmental emission control measures, prompting complaints from residents. As a result, the military relocated this toxic activity to Colfax, Louisiana. Additionally, the US military has been responsible for contaminated drinking water at its bases, impacting the health of soldiers and civilians alike.
The Pentagon, the US Armed Forces, and the Department of Defense (DoD) agencies are the largest institutional greenhouse gas emitters in the world. The DoD maintains over 560,000 buildings on approximately 500 bases worldwide, contributing significantly to their emissions. The US military's emissions are closely tied to its geopolitical ambitions and fears, with emissions surging during periods of war or preparation for conflict. For instance, emissions spiked during Ronald Reagan's anti-communism buildup in the 1980s and after the 9/11 attacks with the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The US military's emissions have been historically overlooked in climate change studies due to the difficulty in obtaining consistent data and the exemption from reporting military emissions in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol. However, with increasing awareness and petitions for more transparent reporting, there is a growing recognition of the US military's role as a significant polluter. Neta C. Crawford, a political scientist, and other researchers have highlighted the need for accountability and better outcomes through informed decision-making.
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The US military's carbon bootprint is enormous
The US military's carbon footprint is enormous, and it is considered one of the largest polluters in history. If the US military were a country, it would be the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, with fuel usage alone accounting for this ranking. The US military is a vast infrastructure that relies on a global network of trucks, cargo planes, and container ships to support its operations. These operations range from humanitarian aid to the delivery of bombs and hydrocarbon fuels.
The US military has long been aware of its contribution to climate change. In October 2021, the US military acknowledged that rising temperatures are "reshaping" the world with more frequent and intense extreme weather conditions. However, they failed to analyze their own contributions to these changes. The US military's day-to-day operations produce massive carbon emissions, and they have cultivated a corrosive environmental legacy worldwide. For example, in December 2021, about 6,000 people in Hawaii fell ill when jet fuel leaked into their drinking water.
The US military's spending and emissions are the highest in the world. Since 2001, the military has been responsible for 77-80% of federal energy consumption. The Department of Defense (DoD) maintains over 560,000 buildings on about 500 bases worldwide, contributing significantly to their emissions. The DoD relies on fossil-fueled ships, trucks, planes, and other vehicles to support its operations, making the military a key contributor to climate change.
The US military's emissions tend to be overlooked in climate change studies, and consistent data from the Pentagon and US government departments is challenging to obtain. The US military's carbon emissions have been estimated to be more than those of Morocco, Peru, Hungary, Finland, New Zealand, and Norway. Brown University's research found that the Pentagon would be the world's 55th largest CO2 emitter if it were a country.
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US military emissions are overlooked in climate change studies
The US military is one of the largest climate polluters in history, emitting more carbon dioxide than most countries. In 2019, a report by Durham and Lancaster University found that if the US military were a country, it would be the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. The US military's vast infrastructure relies on an extensive global network of trucks, cargo planes, and container ships to support its operations, ranging from humanitarian aid to bombs and fuel. This makes the military a significant contributor to climate change.
Despite this, the US military's emissions are often overlooked in climate change studies. Neta C. Crawford, a political scientist at Oxford University, aims to address this gap in her book, "The Pentagon, Climate Change, and War: Charting the Rise and Fall of US Military Emissions." Crawford's research reveals that the Pentagon is the world's largest institutional greenhouse gas emitter, accounting for at least 1% of total US emissions annually. She also found that military emissions rise when the US is at war or preparing for war, such as during Ronald Reagan's anti-communism buildup in the 1980s and after the 9/11 attacks.
The US military's exemption from the 1997 Kyoto Protocol further contributes to the lack of accountability for its emissions. During the negotiations for the protocol, the Pentagon lobbied the Bill Clinton White House to exempt emissions generated by military fuel use, which was ultimately successful. This exemption makes it difficult to gather data on the US military's emissions, allowing them to go largely unaddressed in climate change discussions.
The US military's negligence has had severe environmental consequences, including contaminated drinking water at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune military base and toxic smoke from burn pits on post-9/11 war bases. Additionally, the military's day-to-day operations produce massive carbon emissions, with the US Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marines collectively emitting more than 25,000 kilotonnes of carbon dioxide in 2017. The Cost of Wars Project estimated that US military pollution accounted for 1.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the annual emissions of 257 million passenger cars.
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The US military's environmental legacy is corrosive
The US military is one of the largest polluters in history, with a corrosive environmental legacy. If the US military were a country, it would be the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, with emissions exceeding those of medium-sized countries such as Peru and Portugal. The US military's vast infrastructure and global operations contribute significantly to its carbon footprint. It relies on an extensive network of fossil-fueled ships, trucks, planes, and other vehicles to transport supplies, including bombs, humanitarian aid, and hydrocarbon fuels.
The US military's negligence and disregard for human life have had severe environmental consequences. For example, in December 2021, jet fuel leaked from a World War II-era Navy storage facility, contaminating the drinking water of Hawaiian residents. Similarly, at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune military base, up to 1 million people were exposed to contaminated drinking water over 25 years. The military's day-to-day operations produce massive carbon emissions, and its consumption of liquid fuels and hydrocarbon fuels is exceptionally high.
The US military's emissions have also been linked to its geopolitical ambitions and warfare activities. During periods of war or preparation for war, military spending and emissions surge. For instance, after the 9/11 attacks, the US launched wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, leading to a significant increase in emissions. The Trump administration's aggressive foreign policies and threats of military action against various countries are expected to further increase US military emissions, intensifying their environmental impact.
The US military's corrosive environmental legacy is evident in its contribution to climate change and the lack of transparency and accountability regarding its emissions. The Pentagon, as part of the US Department of Defense, is the world's largest institutional greenhouse gas emitter, yet it often goes overlooked in climate change studies. The US military has successfully lobbied for exemptions from reporting and reducing emissions, such as the Kyoto Protocol, which has hindered progress in addressing its environmental impact.
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US military emissions are rising under Trump's second presidency
The US military is one of the largest polluters in history, with a vast infrastructure that relies on fossil fuels. The Pentagon, the US Armed Forces, and the Department of Defense (DoD) agencies are the world's largest institutional greenhouse gas emitters, accounting for at least 1% of total US emissions annually. The US military's emissions have risen and fallen over the years, depending on the country's geopolitical situation and involvement in wars.
During Donald Trump's second presidency, the US military carbon footprint is on course to rise significantly. In the first 100 days of his second term, Trump threatened military action in Panama, Greenland, Mexico, and Canada, bombed Yemen, and increased military sales to Israel, which intensified its assault on Gaza, the West Bank, Yemen, and Lebanon. Trump's alignment with former adversaries like Russia and his threats to former allies, including Ukraine and NATO, have also contributed to rising tensions. Neta Crawford, a leading expert and author of "The Pentagon, Climate Change, and War: Charting the Rise and Fall of US Military Emissions," warns that if Trump follows through on his threats, US military emissions will rise, triggering a global military buildup that accelerates greenhouse gas emissions.
Trump's proposed $1 trillion defence spending for 2026, a 13% increase from the 2025 Pentagon budget, will likely lead to higher emissions. His termination of climate research at the Pentagon and focus on boosting fossil fuel extraction further indicate a disregard for the environment. Additionally, Trump's plan for a grand military parade to celebrate the US army's 250th anniversary is expected to produce over 2 million kilograms of planet-heating pollution, causing concern among environmental advocates.
While military recruitment numbers have been rising, experts attribute this to recruitment reforms introduced under former President Joe Biden rather than Trump's influence. Trump has exaggerated the scale of the recovery, and public data shows the military is attracting fewer recruits than earlier in the decade. The US military's consistent contribution to enlarging the planet's carbon footprint cannot be overlooked, and reform is necessary to protect the environment.
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Frequently asked questions
The US military is one of the largest polluters in history, with a vast carbon footprint. It relies on an extensive global network of fossil-fueled ships, trucks, planes, and other vehicles to support its operations. The US military has also been responsible for environmental disasters, such as the contamination of drinking water at North Carolina's Camp Lejeune military base.
If the US military were a country, its fuel usage alone would make it the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, sitting between Peru and Portugal. According to Brown University's Costs of War Project, the US military is the single largest institutional source of greenhouse gas emissions in the world.
The largest shares of US military emissions come from fuel and powering facilities. Military equipment is not known for its fuel efficiency, and the movement and utilization of troops and equipment around the world involve the burning of vast quantities of jet fuel and diesel.
US military emissions have waxed and waned with its geopolitical fears and ambitions. During periods of war or preparation for war, such as Ronald Reagan's anti-communism buildup in the 1980s and the post-9/11 wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, emissions have surged.
Critics argue that the US military has not done enough to address climate change. There have been calls for more transparent reporting of military emissions and for militaries to be held accountable for their environmental impact. The US military's exemption from reporting emissions under the Kyoto Protocol was closed by the Paris Accord, but this loophole will return with the US's withdrawal from the accord.
