Helena Joyce
The US military is one of the world's largest institutional consumers of hydrocarbons and a major contributor to climate change. The US military's contribution to global warming has been overlooked, with the US government lobbying for an exemption for military activity from the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which set binding emissions targets for signatory nations. While the 2015 Paris Agreement removed the exemption, it did not require countries to report their military emissions, leaving a gap in our understanding of the US's climate footprint. The US military's environmental impact extends beyond carbon emissions, with nuclear testing and waste incineration affecting air quality, ecosystems, biodiversity, and the health of local populations living around bases.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| US Military's Position in 1997 Kyoto Protocol | Exempt from reporting military emissions |
| US Military's Position in 2015 Paris Agreement | No longer exempt from emissions-cutting obligations |
| US Military's Position in 2015 Paris Agreement | No longer automatically exempted from emissions-cutting obligations |
| US Military's Position in 2015 Paris Agreement | Decision to report emissions left to the US government |
| US Military's Position in 2015 Paris Agreement | No obligation to cut emissions |
| US Military's Position Overall | One of the world's largest institutional consumers of hydrocarbons and a major climate polluter |
| US Military's Position Overall | A major producer of greenhouse gases, with more emissions than many industrialized nations |
| US Military's Position Overall | Accounts for nearly 80% of the federal government's fuel consumption |
| US Military's Position Overall | Accounts for 5.5% of global emissions |
| US Military's Position Overall | Largest emitter of greenhouse gases among militaries |
| US Military's Impact | Air quality, ecosystems, biodiversity, and health of local populations affected |
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What You'll Learn
- The US military is one of the largest climate polluters in history
- The US military's contribution to climate change is often overlooked
- The US military's emissions are declining, but there is no consistent methodology for reporting
- The US military's environmental impact extends beyond carbon emissions, affecting air quality, ecosystems, biodiversity and human health
- The US military's emissions are voluntary reports and often exclude emissions from supply chains and the global weapons industry
The US military is one of the largest climate polluters in history
The US military is a significant contributor to climate change and is considered one of the largest polluters in history. Its vast infrastructure and extensive global network of vehicles, including fossil-fueled ships, trucks, and planes, contribute to its large carbon footprint.
A 2019 report by Durham and Lancaster University found that the US military consumes more liquid fuels and emits more carbon dioxide than most countries. If it were a nation state, it would rank 47th in greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing countries like Sweden, Morocco, and Switzerland. The US military's emissions are comparable to 257 million passenger cars annually.
The US military's large carbon footprint is due in part to its extensive global operations, which can range from humanitarian aid to the use of hydrocarbon fuels and weapons. The Department of Defense (DoD) maintains over 560,000 buildings on about 500 bases worldwide, contributing significantly to its emissions. The DoD also accounts for nearly 80% of the federal government's fuel consumption.
Historically, the US military has been exempt from reporting its emissions due to loopholes in international climate treaties like the Kyoto Protocol, which exempted greenhouse gases emitted during military operations from a country's emissions totals. While the Paris Agreement removed this automatic exemption, reporting military emissions is still voluntary, leading to a lack of clear data on the US military's carbon footprint.
The US military's negligence has also had detrimental effects on the health and economies of its own citizens and the countries in which it intervenes. For instance, the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune in North Carolina contaminated groundwater with harmful chemicals, resulting in illnesses for many servicemen and residents.
Despite the US military's contributions to climate change, reform and accountability are necessary to protect the planet and those affected by its actions.
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The US military's contribution to climate change is often overlooked
The US military's vast infrastructure and global network of trucks, cargo planes, and container ships contribute significantly to its carbon footprint. The military's emissions are not limited to wartime, with only a third of US military emissions related to its major zones of operation between 2001 and 2018. The impact of the military extends beyond the front lines, with a sprawling network of carbon-intensive manufacturing supply chains. The US military's emissions are also linked to its extensive property holdings, with a large number of buildings to heat and power.
The US military's exemption from the Kyoto Protocol in 1997 contributed to the lack of attention on its climate impact. While the 2015 Paris Agreement removed the automatic exemption for military emissions, reporting remains voluntary, resulting in a gap in understanding the military's true climate footprint. The US military's emissions are declining, but the absence of consistent methodology and reporting requirements makes it challenging to accurately assess its environmental impact.
The damage caused by the US military extends beyond carbon emissions. Historical nuclear testing, the "war on terror," and the use of toxic waste in burn pits have harmed ecosystems, biodiversity, and the health of local populations around military bases. The US military's environmental impact is significant, and its contribution to climate change warrants greater attention and accountability.
The US military has acknowledged the impact of climate change, recognizing it as a threat multiplier. However, it has fallen short of analyzing its own contributions to the issue. With its vast resources and global presence, the US military has a responsibility to address its environmental footprint and work towards mitigating its impact on the planet.
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The US military's emissions are declining, but there is no consistent methodology for reporting
The US military is a significant contributor to climate change. If it were a nation state, it would be the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. The US military's emissions are a result of its vast infrastructure and reliance on an extensive global network of trucks, cargo planes, and container ships to supply its operations. These operations can range from humanitarian aid to bombs and hydrocarbon fuels.
While the US military's emissions are declining, there is no consistent methodology for reporting them. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) guidelines state that military emissions, if reported, should be included in a category marked "nonspecified." This same category includes things like civilian waste incineration, making it impossible to determine which specific emissions originate from military sources. The US never ratified the Kyoto Protocol, which created a reporting loophole for militaries, and the 2015 Paris Agreement removed the exemption for military emissions but did not make reporting mandatory. As a result, the full picture of US military emissions is unclear, and there are significant gaps in the data.
The difficulty in tracking military emissions arises from the complex and dynamic nature of military operations, with numerous moving parts and people and equipment constantly on the move. Additionally, military organizations tend to be secretive, making it challenging for researchers to access the necessary data for accurate reporting and estimation.
Some organizations are working to address the issue of military emissions. NATO, for instance, has announced that it will develop a method to help member states calculate their military emissions and set voluntary targets for emission reductions. The Military Emissions Gap project, a partnership between the Conflict and Environment Observatory and the UK university research consortium Concrete Impacts, aims to monitor voluntarily submitted emissions data and compare it with independent estimates to identify gaps and missing information.
Despite these efforts, there is still no standardized framework for reporting conflict-related emissions, and the absence of a UN requirement for military emissions reporting means that the world's militaries remain a conspicuously absent sector in countries' efforts to combat climate change.
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The US military's environmental impact extends beyond carbon emissions, affecting air quality, ecosystems, biodiversity and human health
The US military is one of the largest climate polluters in history, with a devastating carbon footprint. It consumes more liquid fuels and emits more carbon dioxide than most countries. If it were a nation state, it would be the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world. This is due to its reliance on fossil fuels to power tanks, aircraft, aircraft carriers, and other vehicles. The US military also owns a lot of property, with a vast number of buildings to heat and power.
The US military's environmental impact extends beyond carbon emissions, affecting air quality, ecosystems, biodiversity, and human health. Its supply chains and the global weapons industry account for a large portion of its carbon footprint. The use of explosives and various weapons causes environmental degradation, releases pollutants, and disrupts natural carbon absorption processes. The US military's interventions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Syria have resulted in environmental damage and major health problems, with the routine incineration of plastics, electronics, and other toxic waste in giant burn pits. The widespread use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), mainly found in firefighting foam, has poisoned waters and caused birth defects and cancer. Nuclear testing on the Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands exposed residents to dangerous levels of radiation.
The US military has been criticized for its lack of transparency and accountability regarding its environmental impact. It has lobbied for exemptions from international climate treaties, such as the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, and has not been required to report its emissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement. This has led to a gap in understanding the full extent of its climate footprint. While the US military has claimed to implement positive changes, these efforts have been minimal.
The inclusion of the US military in international climate agreements and the development of standard frameworks for reporting conflict-related emissions are necessary to address its environmental impact. Researchers and activists have called for the inclusion of the US military in climate treaties such as the Green New Deal.
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The US military's emissions are voluntary reports and often exclude emissions from supply chains and the global weapons industry
The US military is one of the largest climate polluters in history, with emissions exceeding those of many industrialized nations. Its vast infrastructure relies on a global network of trucks, cargo planes, and container ships to supply its operations, ranging from humanitarian aid to bombs and fuels. While the US military's emissions are significant, reporting on them has been voluntary, and they are often excluded from supply chains and the global weapons industry in reports.
The US military's emissions reporting is not mandatory under the Paris Agreement, and it was exempt from the Kyoto Protocol, the first international climate treaty focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This exemption, however, was removed in the 2015 Paris Agreement. Still, reporting remains voluntary, and the US military is not required to disclose its emissions data. This lack of mandatory reporting leads to significant gaps in the understanding of the US military's true climate impact.
The US military's voluntary reports often exclude emissions from supply chains and the global weapons industry, which are significant contributors to their carbon footprint. The supply chain emissions, including the manufacturing and transportation of weapons systems, vehicles, and equipment, likely account for a large portion of the US military's overall emissions. The US military's extensive supply chains span nearly all US states, involving thousands of companies.
The US military's emissions data is crucial for understanding its environmental impact. However, the absence of mandatory reporting and the exclusion of supply chain and weapons industry emissions in voluntary reports create a challenge in accurately assessing the US military's carbon footprint. This gap in data contributes to a larger issue of underreporting and overlooking the environmental impact of global military emissions.
To address this issue, organizations like the Conflict and Environment Observatory have estimated global military carbon emissions to be approximately 2,750 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, or 5.5% of global emissions. This estimate includes supply chain emissions, which are often the largest fraction of a military's carbon footprint. Despite these efforts, the lack of standardized reporting and the secretive nature of militaries make it difficult to accurately assess the true environmental impact of the US military and global military emissions.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the US military is not exempt from all pollution treaties. While the US military successfully pushed for an exemption from the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, the 2015 Paris Agreement removed this exemption. However, reporting emissions remains optional and individual governments can decide whether their armed forces must comply with emissions reductions.
The Kyoto Protocol was the world's first legally binding international climate treaty, which focused on reducing global greenhouse gas emissions. The US never ratified the treaty, citing concerns that countries like India and China were not required to reduce emissions.
The US military is a major polluter and one of the world's largest institutional consumers of hydrocarbons. It emits more carbon dioxide than entire countries, such as Denmark and Portugal, and accounts for nearly 80% of the US federal government's fuel consumption. The US military's nuclear testing, waste incineration, and use of toxic chemicals have also caused significant environmental damage and health problems for local populations.
