UN Summit Highlights Military Pollution Worldwide

Lennard de Klerk calculated war emissions to raise awareness of military carbon impact. His team focuses on climate...
A Ukrainian tank fires at pro-Russian forces in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. Russia and pro-separatist forces have controlled the region since 2014, eight years before Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor. Credit: Courtesy of Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

In the winter of 2022, Lennard de Klerk, a Dutch engineer, was managing a carbon-neutral ecolodge in a small Hungarian town when Russia invaded Ukraine. As refugees streamed into Hungary, de Klerk, who had lived in Ukraine and spoke the language, was moved to action.

He sought to calculate the emissions caused by the Ukraine war, believing it could raise awareness about its global impact on climate. De Klerk assembled a team of former colleagues to measure emissions from bombings, fuel use by tanks, and the vehicles of fleeing Ukrainians.

For two years, the team conducted the first real-time study of wartime emissions. Signs indicate the focus on military emissions is intensifying.

Next month, de Klerk will head a panel at the United Nations’ climate summit in Baku. The session will tackle the long-debated question: should militaries disclose their greenhouse gas emissions?

A coalition of climate scientists and researchers argues for mandatory military emissions reporting in international climate agreements. Their studies highlight militaries as major greenhouse gas contributors.

At the forefront of this effort, Benjamin Neimark from Queen Mary University of London emphasizes the importance of understanding military emissions. “We cannot cut what we don’t know,” he stated, citing a study on emissions from the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Despite efforts, militaries often cite national security concerns to limit emissions disclosures. The Kyoto Protocol exempted militaries from reporting, and the Paris Agreement only encouraged voluntary reporting, leading to inconsistent practices.

De Klerk’s research found the Ukraine conflict emitted over 175 million metric tons of CO2, comparable to the annual emissions of 90 million gasoline cars. These figures include emissions from future reconstruction efforts.

In a related study by Neimark’s team, the initial phase of the Gaza conflict was estimated to produce emissions equivalent to 61 million metric tons of CO2.

The U.S. and European military leaders acknowledge climate change’s impact on operations but argue that full transparency might compromise security. The Pentagon’s 2023 report highlighted 51 million metric tons of CO2 emissions in 2021, half from jet fuel.

However, the report excluded Scope 3 emissions from contractors, estimating that militaries could contribute 5.5% of global emissions annually. Environmental groups like the Conflict and Environment Observatory criticize this omission.

U.S. policy shifts under President Biden have aimed at reducing emissions, with the Defense Department setting a net-zero target by 2050. Innovations include electric vehicles and aerodynamic aircraft designs.

The Pentagon’s climate initiatives include microgrids and research into electric combat vehicles. Military leaders view climate change as a security threat that transcends borders, a sentiment echoed by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks.

Despite political challenges, some experts argue that military emissions reporting is vital. Neta C. Crawford from the University of Oxford suggests that including Scope 3 data could reveal U.S. military emissions as 2-3% of national totals.

The debate continues, with environmentalists pushing for comprehensive disclosures. Meanwhile, military strategists recognize the operational benefits of greener technologies.

Original Story at insideclimatenews.org