Call fro Action: "Goverments: commit to meaningful military emissions cuts at COP26"

There are signs that some countries may pledge to reduce military greenhouse gas emissions at COP26 in November. This call sets out the scope of what these pledges should include and is open for signature by organisations before and during the COP.

The 2015 Paris Agreement left cutting military greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to the discretion of individual nations.

Militaries are major emitters and should not be excluded from GHG reduction targets. Governments must demonstrate their commitment to the Paris targets by setting military GHG reduction targets and cutting military GHG emissions at COP26. For these commitments to be meaningful, they must meet the criteria set out below.

Military emissions, expenditure and reporting

Militaries are huge energy users and contribute significant GHG emissions, as well as causing wider adverse environmental impacts from training, activities and operations. Militaries are typically the largest energy consumers among government agencies but historically there has been a reluctance to disclose data on their emissions.

Global military expenditure rose by 2.6% in 2020 to almost US $2 trillion, in spite of a fall in global GDP of 4.4% due to the COVID-19 pandemic.¹ Such increases in military expenditure risk mirrored increases in emissions, as well as diverting funding from sustainable development, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, obliges signatories to publish annual GHG emissions, but military emissions reporting is voluntary and often not included. When reported, it is generally incomplete and excludes emissions from equipment and supply chains, and those related to the impact of conflict-operations. This can include emissions from infrastructure damage, conflict-linked environmental change and post-conflict reconstruction. 

Meaningful commitments

Militaries and the industries that support them can no longer be viewed as exceptional and must take urgent and significant action to reduce their GHG emissions and environmental bootprint. While NATO’s recent acknowledgement of this is welcome, recognition is only the first step.

Governments must use COP26 to commit to reducing military GHG emissions. For these commitments to be credible and meaningful, they must:

• Set clear GHG emission reduction targets for the military that are consistent with the 1.5^oC target specified by the 2015 Paris Agreement;
• Commit to GHG emission reporting mechanisms that are robust, comparable and transparent, are based on the GHG protocol, and which are independently verified;
• Set clear targets for the military to conserve energy, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and switch to environmentally responsible renewable energy; 
• Contain clear reduction targets for the military technology industry;
• Prioritise GHG reduction initiatives at source and not rely on schemes to offset GHG emissions;
• Publish GHG reduction policies, strategies and action plans, with annual follow-up reporting on performance;
• Address how reducing military expenditure and deployments, and altering military postures can reduce emissions; 
• Commit to incorporating climate and environmental assessments in decision-making for all procurement, activities and missions;
• Highlight the relationship between climate change and environmental degradation, and demonstrate a commitment to reducing the overall environmental impact of all military activities and missions;
• Commit to optimising the management of military lands to improve carbon sequestration and biodiversity;
• Commit to increase climate and environmental training for decision makers, including on how militaries can mitigate climate change and environmental degradation;
• Demonstrate leadership, openness and a willingness to collaborate and exchange information on good practice with non-military stakeholders;
• Commit to allocating the appropriate resources to ensure all climate and environmental protection policies can be fully implemented.