Militaries are some of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, but their emissions have received limited attention amidst the global decarbonisation movement. One organisation that is trying to put military emissions on the agenda is the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS). CEOBS collects data on the emissions by militaries around the world and hopes to put military emissions on the table at COP27.
The problem: underreporting military emissions
Military emissions have largely been absent within the reporting requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Reporting on military emissions was already absent from the Kyoto Protocol, amidst pressure from the United States. The Paris Agreement made military reporting voluntary. According to CEOBS, the UNFCCC has different obligations for the more economically developed (Annex I) countries and less developed (non-Annex I) countries. Even if military emissions reporting would be obligatory, this would only count for the 43 Annex I countries, plus the EU. The non-Annex I countries, which include large militaries such as China, India, Saudi Arabia and Israel, would still be exempt from reporting on their emissions.
CEOBS has found that the reporting to the UNFCCC has been either wholly absent or incomplete, and poorly distinguished from other emission categories, with substantial inconsistencies between countries. Governments use a category system based on IPCC guidelines to report on their emissions. Emissions from mobile fuel use (road transport, aviation and ships) fall into a different category than stationary fuel use (heating military bases). Many countries do not disaggregate their military emissions but instead pile them with civilian sectors. Some countries also do not release data on military emissions on the grounds of national security.
Moreover, the military emissions that governments do report exclude military equipment procurement and other supply chains. Research into the UK and EU militaries shows that these account for the majority of emissions. Emissions by arms producers and other military technology firms like Boeing and Leonardo are also excluded from official figures. Militaries are also reluctant to report on emissions from overseas or conflict operations. CEOBS has shown that conflicts can lead to an increase in emissions, both during the conflict itself and in the post-conflict reconstruction. Conflicts, as well as leading to social, upheaval and environmental change and hamper environmental governance.
The solution: bringing military emissions to COP27
CEOBS suggests that states should commit to improving the standard, scope, frequency, and transparency of their reporting on military emissions. The reporting should then be backed up by pledges for meaningful and credible emission cuts. An important way through which military emissions could rise on the international agenda is via COP27, which will take place from 7-18 November 2022 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. At COP26 in Glasgow, military emissions were not on the formal agenda, but they were still discussed. NATO attended a COP for the first time in Glasgow, and Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg acknowledged that "there is no way to reach net-zero without also including emissions from the military". NATO announced that it will develop a methodology for counting military emissions at the NATO summit of June 14th 2021, as a first step towards lowering them. As international interest in military emissions is rising, CEOBS hopes that they will be included in the formal agenda at COP27. Whether this will happen depends on the Egyptian presidency, taking over from the UK shortly before COP27. Different tracks are being pursued in lobbying Egypt to put emissions on the agenda: national governments have dialogues with both other governments and NGO’s, and NGO’s are also lobbying among each other to raise the issue. CEOBS continues its advocacy work and is building an intersectional, global network of organisations willing to collaborate. By strategizing with these organisations CEOBS hopes to draw more attention to the scale of military emissions and the lamentable state of reporting.
Find out more about military emissions on the military emissions gap website, a collaboration between CEOBS and Lancaster and Durham universities. Read about the EU’s efforts to green security and defence in PSI’s policy brief. And the military’s own growing interest in decarbonisation here.