Military greenhouse gas emissions are excluded from climate agreements. Why? Mike Smith discusses the issue and impact of military emissions on the planet with Marisa Sposaro on the 3CR Radioactive Show Melbourne and nationally across Australia.

Key points:

• Military emissions and pollution are excluded from climate agreements
• Kyoto 1997 – military greenhouse gas emissions were exempted from climate negotiations
• Paris 2015 – left up to the “discretion” of nations to include or not
• UN Framework Convention on Climate Change – obliges signatories, such as Australia, to publish annual greenhouse gas emissions but military emissions reporting is voluntary, often left out
• NATO – has acknowledged the issue but not come up with a solution.

Military greenhouse gas emissions are significant:

• European Union (27 nations), 2019, 25 million tonnes CO2 equivalent (UN estimate)
• United Kingdom (UK), 2018, 11 tonnes CO2 equivalent (UN estimate)
• Global military emissions
  • Supply chain, procurement, production of military equipment and arms (biggest military emitter)
  • Impact of conflicts and wars
  • Tanks, planes, ships, other vehicles, missiles, rockets.

US atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Japan) 1945:

• Greatest environmental disaster
• Greatest war crime committed.

Military greenhouse gas emissions are adding to the problem.

Great work 3CR Melbourne and nationally in Australia highlighting this issue.