NATO expansion may hike global emissions by 220M tonnes
Military operations account for more than 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The planned increase in NATO's military capacity is expected to have a significant impact on the environment. The latest report from the Conflict and Environment Observatory indicates that this could amount to approximately 220 million tonnes annually.
According to the CEOBS report, NATO's planned increase in military capacity could result in an increase in greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 220 million tonnes annually. Experts note that such increased spending could worsen the climate crisis and contribute to a rise in the number of conflicts globally.
Wars account for 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions
Estimates by CEOBS and a group of scientists advocating for global responsibility suggest that daily military operations might be responsible for about 5.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. If the armed forces worldwide were considered a single nation, they would rank fourth among the world’s largest polluters.
Lennard de Klerk, report co-author and climate specialist, highlighted in an interview with the UK daily "Guardian" that military equipment and weapons contain significant amounts of steel and aluminum, whose production is highly emissive.
According to the Polish Press Agency, three years of extensive warfare led by Russia against Ukraine resulted in 287 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. This is akin to the yearly emissions of Austria, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia combined. Meanwhile, emissions from the first 60 days of Israel's conflict in the Gaza Strip surpassed the annual emissions of 20 countries and territories.
Data from the Global Peace Index show that in 2023, 108 countries increased their military spending. With ongoing armed conflicts in 92 countries, such as Ukraine, the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as rising tensions between China and the USA over Taiwan and deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan, many governments are significantly investing in their armed forces due to fears of war outbreak.
Global military spending is increasing
In 2023, global military spending reached a historic high of 2.7 trillion dollars. Russia's invasion of Ukraine led to a sharp increase in arms expenditures within European Union countries. From 2021 to 2024, total military spending by member states rose by over 30%. It is projected that in 2024 it will reach 344 billion dollars, which constitutes about 1.9% of the EU countries' GDP, nearly meeting NATO's 2% target.
