Greta Jimenez
The US military is one of the largest polluters in history, with a carbon footprint larger than any other institution on Earth. If the US military were a country, it would be the world's 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, producing more than entire industrialised nations like Denmark, Portugal, Sweden, Morocco, and Switzerland. The US military's emissions tend to be overlooked in climate change studies due to the difficulty in obtaining consistent data, as the US withdrew from the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, exempting it from reporting military emissions. The US military's vast infrastructure relies on a global network of container ships, trucks, and cargo planes, contributing significantly to climate change. Its operations range from humanitarian aid to weapons systems, with fuel consumption increasing over the decades. The environmental impact of the US military includes land pollution, water contamination, and toxic waste, causing concern among climate activists and researchers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Carbon dioxide emissions | More than entire countries like Denmark and Portugal |
| Carbon dioxide emissions in equivalent terms | 51 million metric tons annually in the last two years |
| Carbon footprint | Larger than any other institution on Earth |
| Liquid fuel consumption | More than most medium-sized countries |
| Land pollution | Toxic chemicals contaminating drinking water, aquifers, and soil |
| Land wastage | Almost 900 of the 1,200 Superfund sites in the US are abandoned military sites |
| Water pollution | Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water |
| Greenhouse gas emissions | 1.2 billion metric tons since 2001 |
| Fuel consumption | 83.3 litres (22 gallons) per soldier by 2003 |
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What You'll Learn
The US military is a major polluter of land
The US military is one of the largest polluters in history, with a carbon footprint larger than any other institution on Earth. If the US military were a country, it would be the world's 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, producing more than entire industrialised nations like Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Morocco, and Switzerland. The US military's emissions are about 51 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually in the last two years, a reduction from previous emissions, but still larger than most countries.
The US military's vast infrastructure relies on an extensive global network of container ships, trucks, and cargo planes to supply its operations with bombs, humanitarian aid, and hydrocarbon fuels. The bulk of its emissions come from fuel usage, with up to 80% of fuel consumed by fighter jets operating at high altitudes. The US military also owns a lot of property, with 585,000 facilities spread over 27 million acres in 160 countries, requiring significant energy to heat and power.
The US military's environmental impact is evident in its domestic and foreign bases, which rank among the most polluted sites in the world due to toxic chemicals contaminating drinking water, aquifers, and soil. For example, at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, up to 1 million people were exposed to contaminated drinking water over 25 years. The widespread use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foam on bases like Okinawa in Japan has poisoned water sources, causing birth defects and cancer.
The US military's carbon bootprint has not gone unnoticed, with researchers and activists calling for its inclusion in climate change studies and treaties. However, the US military has long enjoyed a reporting loophole for its emissions, first with the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and later with its withdrawal from the Paris Accords in 2020. This lack of transparency has contributed to the military's corrosive environmental legacy, with critics arguing that it hasn't done enough to address climate change.
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It is one of the largest climate polluters in history
The US military is one of the largest climate polluters in history, with a carbon footprint larger than any other institution on Earth. If the US military were a country, it would be the world's 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases, surpassing the emissions of entire industrialised nations like Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Morocco, and Switzerland.
The US military's vast infrastructure relies on an extensive global network of container ships, trucks, and cargo planes to supply its operations, ranging from humanitarian aid to bombs and fuel. This machinery guzzles liquid fuels, emitting more climate-changing gases than most medium-sized countries. The US military's emissions are about 51 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually in the last two years, and this does not include emissions caused by the destruction of property and infrastructure during warfare.
The US military's environmental legacy is corrosive, with domestic and foreign bases ranking among the most polluted places in the world due to toxic chemicals contaminating drinking water, aquifers, and soil. For example, jet fuel from a World War II-era Navy storage facility leaked into the drinking water of Hawaiian residents, causing approximately 6,000 people to fall ill. Furthermore, trash burned in pits on post-9/11 war bases released toxic smoke, endangering the health of soldiers and civilians.
The US military's emissions have been historically challenging to track due to reporting loopholes in the 1997 Kyoto Protocol and the US withdrawal from the Paris Accords in 2020. While the US military has recognised climate change as an "existential" threat to national security, critics argue that it has not done enough to mitigate its contributions, which include more than just emissions. The US military's vast network of carbon-intensive manufacturing supply chains and its role in securing access to oil also contribute to its environmental impact.
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The US military is a vast infrastructure
The US military's carbon bootprint is enormous, relying on an extensive global network of container ships, trucks, and cargo planes to supply its operations. The bulk of these emissions come from fuel use, with the US military owning a lot of property and having numerous buildings to power and heat. In 2018, the Defense Department had approximately 585,000 facilities spread over 27 million acres in 160 different countries. The US military's fuel consumption has increased significantly over the decades, with modern military kit, equipment, and the powering of conveniences contributing to this rise. The US military is also a major consumer of liquid fuels, with up to 80% of its fuel used for fighter jets operating at high altitudes.
The US military's environmental impact is not limited to its fuel usage and carbon emissions. It has also contaminated water sources, soil, and the land surrounding its bases with toxic chemicals, such as perchlorate and other jet fuel components. The US military has left a legacy of pollution and waste on its domestic and foreign bases, with almost 900 of the 1,200 Superfund sites in the US being abandoned military sites. These sites require special government clean-up grants due to the hazardous materials and weaponry that pose risks to human life and the environment.
The US military has recognised climate change as an "existential" threat to national security, but critics argue that it has not done enough to address its contribution. While the Pentagon has acknowledged the impact of rising temperatures and extreme weather conditions caused by climate change, it has failed to analyse its own role in increasing greenhouse gas emissions. The US military has reduced its emissions over the years and is working towards a more sustainable future, but its environmental impact continues to be a pressing issue that requires further action and attention.
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It is the world's largest institutional consumer of hydrocarbons
The US military is the world's single largest institutional consumer of hydrocarbons, producing more emissions than entire industrialised nations. In 2019, a report released by Durham and Lancaster University found that the US military is “one of the largest climate polluters in history, consuming more liquid fuels and emitting more CO2e (carbon-dioxide equivalent) than most countries". The report also stated that if the US military were a nation state, it would be the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the world, taking into account only the emissions from fuel usage.
The US military's vast infrastructure relies on an extensive global network of trucks, cargo planes, and container ships to supply its operations. The bulk of fuel is consumed by weapons systems, such as tanks, ships, and planes, with up to 80% going towards fuel for fighter jets. The US military's carbon footprint is larger than that of any other institution on Earth, yet it has largely evaded scrutiny due to a lack of transparency and disclosure of its greenhouse gas emissions.
The environmental impact of the US military's operations is significant. The widespread use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in firefighting foam on domestic installations and foreign bases, has poisoned water sources and caused birth defects and cancer. In addition, the US military's land pollution is evident through nuclear testing and the contamination of drinking water, aquifers, and soil surrounding its bases with toxic chemicals.
The US military's dependence on fossil fuels and existing aircraft and warships locks it into a reliance on hydrocarbons for the foreseeable future. This situation has a massive hidden impact on the climate, contributing to global warming and climate change. Despite increasing attention to this issue, the US military's fuel consumption is not expected to change in the near term.
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The US military's emissions are about 51 million metric tons of CO2 equivalent annually
The US military is one of the largest polluters in the world, with emissions equivalent to approximately 51 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. This figure is larger than the emissions of most countries and makes the US military one of the biggest contributors to climate change.
The US military's vast infrastructure relies on a global network of trucks, cargo planes, and container ships to supply its operations, which can range from humanitarian aid to bombs and fuel. This extensive supply chain is a major contributor to the military's carbon emissions. In addition, the US military owns a lot of property, with a large number of buildings to power and heat, further adding to its energy consumption.
The US military's emissions have been estimated to be higher than entire industrialized nations like Portugal and Denmark. However, due to the US's withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol, there is limited data available on the military's exact emissions. The US military is exempt from reporting its emissions, which has led to a lack of transparency and scrutiny.
The environmental impact of the US military extends beyond carbon emissions. Military bases are often contaminated with toxic chemicals, such as perchlorate and other components of jet fuel, which can pollute drinking water, aquifers, and soil. The widespread use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), found in firefighting foam, has also poisoned water sources and caused birth defects and cancer. In addition, the US military has a long history of land waste, with almost 900 out of 1,200 Superfund sites in the US being abandoned military sites.
Despite recognizing climate change as a threat, the US military has been criticized for not doing enough to reduce its emissions and address its environmental impact. Critics argue that the military has enjoyed exceptionalism for too long and needs to be held accountable for its pollution.
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Frequently asked questions
The US military is one of the largest polluters in history, with a carbon footprint larger than any other institution on Earth. If the US military were a country, its fuel usage alone would make it the 47th largest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world.
The US military owns a lot of property and has a lot of buildings to heat and power. In 2018, the Defense Department had around 585,000 facilities spread over 27 million acres in 160 different countries. The bulk of the US military's emissions come from fuel use, with as much as 80% going to fuel for fighter jets.
Military bases are concentrations of often huge quantities of highly hazardous and destructive materials and weaponry. They are contaminated with toxic chemicals, such as perchlorate and other components of jet fuel, that poison the drinking water, aquifers, and soil surrounding the bases.
The US military emits more carbon dioxide than entire industrialised nations like Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Morocco, and Switzerland. It is the world's largest institutional consumer of hydrocarbons and one of the world's biggest consumers of fuel, accounting for 5.5% of global emissions.
The US military has been criticised for not doing enough to address climate change. While the Pentagon has acknowledged the threat posed by climate change, it has failed to analyse its own contributions to the issue. However, there have been some efforts to reduce emissions, such as the development of a sustainability plan and the goal of reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
