War is one of the world's 'biggest polluters.' Is it time for EU militaries to disclose their emissions

 War is one of the world's 'biggest polluters.' Is it time for EU militaries to disclose their emissions?

Militaries are responsible for approximately 5.5 percent of global emissions, but these emissions remain largely unreported in the EU.

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Unless the EU shows "credible leadership" and fully discloses its militaries' emissions, it risks breaching its climate targets.

Experts have warned that the environmental costs of conflict can no longer remain "hidden from public view," as negotiations on the phase-out of fossil fuels intensify at COP30.

A 2022 study by Scientists for Global Responsibility and the Conflict and Environment Observatory estimates that militaries are responsible for approximately 5.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, and armed conflicts emit more CO₂ than most countries.

However, they are largely excluded from mandatory reporting under global climate agreements.

Is war causing the climate crisis?

Last year, 92 countries—nearly half the world—fought wars. Widespread warfare not only has a devastating impact on the livelihoods of those living in conflict zones, but also wreaks havoc on the environment.

Emissions arise from fuel-intensive jet planes and tanks, but also from efforts to repair and rebuild damage after conflict.

According to The War on Climate, the Israel-Gaza war emitted 32.2 million tons of CO₂ equivalent in just 15 months.

In three years, Russia's invasion of Ukraine also emitted 230 million CO₂ equivalent.

The organization says, "Militaries emit massive amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, devastate ecosystems, and leave behind toxic waste that poisons communities for generations. Yet, they face no accountability."

Europe's Military Emissions

The European Union does not report approximately 82 percent of its military emissions, and it is estimated that its defense spending will increase by 100 billion euros by 2027.

For example, Germany recently announced that it is dramatically increasing its military spending – experts estimate this will result in 10 million tons of carbon emissions.

At the same time, the country has cut approximately 1.5 billion euros from its annual budget to help developing countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

Dr. Soroush Abolfathy, associate professor at the University of Warwick and a member of The War on Climate, says, "As long as Europe's military emissions remain obscured, it cannot claim climate leadership."

"Armed forces worldwide are believed to generate approximately 5.5 percent of global emissions – yet the EU excludes approximately 82 percent of its military emissions from its accounts."

Dr. Abolfathy argues that the EU must address this gap as the COP 30 fossil fuel phaseout negotiations have reached a "critical stage" to achieve the Paris Agreement.

Is a zero-emission military possible?

Although many EU countries argue that disclosing their military emissions poses a security threat, two have committed to net-zero military emissions: Austria and Slovenia.

However, Dr. Abolfathy told Euronews Green that achieving this goal is "very ambitious" and depends on a country's definition and scope.

"Does 'zero-emission military' mean all armed forces or just a subset?" he asks.

"Even in countries that have committed to net-zero, the biggest challenges will be emissions from high fuel use, especially in aircraft and ships, energy-intensive equipment manufacturing, overseas operations, and procurement and supply chains. Many of these are currently poorly monitored or reported."

Since reporting military emissions is voluntary and often not disaggregated, Dr. Abolfathi argues that achieving net-zero emissions will require a very strong political, financial, and technical commitment, as well as "changes in the structure of defense logistics and operations."

He added, "Such targets can be symbolically powerful and promote more detailed monitoring and transparency, which is a positive step."

Which EU countries have the highest military emissions?

Based on estimates from the Conflict and Environment Observatory, France has the highest military carbon emissions in the EU, while Germany also has significant military emissions.

Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands are also mentioned in the analysis of military emissions. However, the data they report is limited.

One study estimates that the combined military emissions of all 27 EU member states are 24.8 metric tons of CO₂ equivalent.

Countries with large defense budgets, substantial high-consumption equipment (such as aircraft or naval ships), and strong defense-industry sectors are likely to be the highest emitters, but due to reporting lags, the actual ranking is somewhat uncertain, Dr. Abolfathi explains.